بهمن ابراهیمی حسین زاده

Ganoderma lucidum, with its medicinal characteristics, is one of the most beneficial fungi in traditional Asian medicine. This fungus low efficiency of ganoderic acid production has limited its use as a valuable secondary metabolite. Environmental stresses and elicitors such as microbial volatile organic compounds in co-cultures can increase ganoderic acid production. To investigate effects of variables of co-culture time and volume on Ganoderma lucidum growth and ganoderic acid production, Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger were aerially co-cultured with Ganoderma lucidum.

To investigate fungus growth and production of ganoderic acid using bubble column bioreactor, effects of independent variables of temperature, initial inoculation, length-to-diameter ratio (L: D) and aeration were investigated using Taguchi method. Then, effects of co-culture of Ganoderma lucidum with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger under optimum conditions were investigated.

Optimizing effects of co-culture time and volume variables led to 2.9-fold increases in production of ganoderic acid, compared to the control sample. Optimization of biomass production in the bioreactor showed that biomass production increased significantly by increasing the initial inoculation percentage and temperature. These two variables significantly affected ganoderic acid production and its optimum production point was 10% of initial inoculation, temperature of 25.6 °C, L: D of 4:8 and aeration rate of 0.64 vvm. Gas holdup investigation for air-water and air-fermentation media systems showed that the presence of suspended solids and aeration rate affected gas holdup. Microbial volatile organic compounds in co-culture of microorganisms can increase ganoderic acid production by Ganoderma lucidum. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Niosomes are one of the new drug delivery systems. In this synthesis study, the properties and characteristics of nanosystems loaded amikacin for the aim of slow releasing and antibacterial activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa were been investigated.

The synthesis nanocarriers were characterized by using DLS, zeta potential, SEM images, and FTIR analysis. The percentage of drug loading in the nanosystems were measured. After that, the release rate of the drug was checked. MIC microbiological tests were performed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Finally, with MTT method, the toxicity and effectiveness of the system on cell line A549 extracted from lung were evaluated.

In this study, by synthesis and optimization, with the highest loading efficiency of 95.15% at the formulations and the slowest release with a drug release rate of 65.27% in 60 hours to reduce the side effects of amikacin. We were able to increase the antimicrobial activity of amikacin niosomal against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and reduce the side effects compared to the free form and have a slower and more continuous release with greater effectiveness on bacteria. Studying this process on the lung cell lines was successful and free-form of amikacin has a more toxic effect than two drug-free and drug-free niosomal systems. Numerous mathematical models, including realistic and experimental/quasi-experimental mechanistic models, have been successfully introduced to quantitatively define drug release mechanisms and play an important role in designing a drug delivery system for drug release diagrams. That reported in results

Achieving optimal conditions for the preparation of nanosystems carrying amikacin and investigating the effect of this system on bacterial agents is an important step in science, research, and economic efficiency.

Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) is a rich source of secondary metabolites, including exopolysaccharides. These compounds strengthen the immune system and play essential roles in prevention and treatment of several diseases, in cluding cancers. A way to increase production of polysaccharides is the use of elicitors. Examples of these elicitors include microbial volatile organic compounds, which are produced in microo - rganism co - cultures. The objective of this study was to investi gate effects of these compounds on production of Shiitake exopolysaccharides.

To decrease cultivation time, Shiitake was cultured in four culture media, including (1) potato dextrose broth, (2) potato dextrose broth and D - glucose, (3) malt extract broth and (4) malt extract broth and D - glucose. After selecting appropriate culture media, fungal growth curve, kinetic growth of pellets and filamentous morphology were studied. Novel method of simultaneous aerial co - culture wa s used to increase production of Shiitake exopolysaccharides, which acted as an elicitor by inducing microbial volatile organic compounds of other microorganisms. Microbial volatile organic compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy . Results and

Malt extract medium containing glucose was selected for submerged and solid cultures of Shiitake and the growth time decreased to 18 d. Shiitake biomass production included 11 g.l - 1 . Filamentous morphology included higher product ion rates due to higher surface - to - volume ratios, compared to that the pellet morphology did. Shiitake fungal biomass and exopolysaccharides in co - cultures with Aspergillus niger included 14 and 4 g.l - 1 , respectively . Furthermore, biomass and exopolysaccha rides included 11 and 4.7 g.l - 1 in co - cultures with Schizophyllum commune , respectively . Microbial volatile organic compounds produced by Aspergillus niger and Schizophyllum commune in co - cultures, as elicitors, increased biomass and exopolysaccharide productions in Shiitake. Therefore, it suggests that microorganism co - cultivation is a low - cost effective method for Shiitake exopolysaccharide production

Ganoderma lucidum is one of the medicinal fungi frequently used as supplement. The intracellular polysaccharides of this fungus include high molecular weights and help strengthen the immune system. Furthermore, these polysaccharides act as antioxidants by inhibiting free radicals and enhancing activity of the enzymes. Addition of various elicitors to the fungi submerged culture media affects the cell growth and metabolite production. Fungal extracts are one of these elicitors.

In this study, Ganoderma lucidum was first cultured in various culture media to investigate the base media. Using three various methods (soaking the fruit body in water, disintegrating the fruit body with a blender and boiling the fruit body), Agaricus bisporus fruit body extract was prepared as elicitor and the extract with the highest sugar content was used. For the optimization of growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides, effects of six independent factors were investigated using Placket-Burman method, including Agaricus bisporus extract, peptone, maltose, pH, vitamin B1 and CaCl2. Response surface method was used to optimize three factors of vitamin B1, Agaricus bisporus extract and maltose. Then, stirred tank bioreactor was used to culture Ganoderma lucidum.

The YPG culture medium was selected as the base medium based on mycelial growth and antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides (IC50). Sugar content of the Agaricus bisporus extract was 30.66 μg.ml-1. Placket-Burman method revealed that the extracts of Agaricus bisporus, maltose and vitamin B1 significantly increased antioxidant activity of the intracellular polysaccharides. After optimizing these factors using RSM, the IC50 was reported as 1.047 mg.ml-1. Ganoderma lucidum cultivation in bioreactor significantly increased the cell growth (5.29 g.l-1). Intracellular polysaccharides included an IC50 of 1.14 mg.ml-1, which was significantly higher than that the intracellular polysaccharides included in YPG culture media.

Ganoderma lucidum is a traditional medicinal mushroom that has many therapeutic applications. However, the application of this beneficial fungus has been limited due to its secondary metabolite’s low production. Many investigations have been carried out to improve the production of G. lucidum as well as Ganoderic Acid (GA); however, prior studies suffer from the lack of sufficient monitoring platform. A real-time monitoring study could be useful to find more information through cultivation and evaluating secondary metabolite production.

In the current study, aerated shaken flasks (AF) with different culture mediums were used for online measurement of the respiration activity of G. lucidum in small scale bioreactors. Then, to find more information through G. lucidum growth, four factors, including biomass formation, GA, residual sugar, and gene expression were evaluated on different days.

Online monitoring of cell proliferation demonstrated that GA starts to synthesize in the second growth phase as a partially growth-associated metabolite. High maximum biomass and GA production were obtained at an initial glucose concentration of 35 g/L with vitamin and KH2PO4. During fermentation, the YO2/GA and Y O2/X the rate of oxygen consumption rate per GA production and biomass formation, respectively, were introduced as beneficial parameters to scale-up the process.

A novel monitoring strategy was suggested which can be beneficial for future investigations.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Considering the nutritional value of fungi in traditional medicine and the history of their use in the treatment of various cancers, modern methods of treating cancer were studied using fungal products, especially polysaccharides. The antitumor activity of fungal polysaccharides is directly related to the stimulation of the immune system. These polysaccharides damage the free radicals and inhibit the growth of cancer cells by altering the function of macrophages, stimulating the production of anti-cancer antibodies and increasing nitric oxide and cytokines production. Despite extensive research on the therapeutic effects of fungal polysaccharides, further research is needed to identify their chemical structure, especially in purification methods. Fungal polysaccharides, in features such as linkage type, the degree of branching, molecular weight and solubility are different. The growth conditions of the fungal species, including the compositions of the culture medium, temperature, pH and type of bioreactor, affect the yield of polysaccharide and its monosaccharide composition. Polysaccharide extraction methods, drying, purification, and chemical modification can change the structural properties of polysaccharide, including linkage type, the degree of branching, uronic acid content, protein content, and solubility. Structural differences in fungal polysaccharides have been shown to lead to differences in antioxidant activity, anti-proliferation, and immune stimulation. Therefore, by investigating the chemical structure of fungal polysaccharides, it can be targeted to the production of polysaccharides for the treatment of cancer.

 One of the medicinal fungi that has been used in traditional medicine for a long time is the Basidiomycete fungus Fomes fomentarius, which is widely distributed in Iran. Polysaccharides as one of the metabolites of this fungus have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

   Optimization of independent variables of MgSO4.7H2O concentration, initial pH, yeast extract, and inoculum percentage to increase biomass and polysaccharide production of F. fomentarius was investigated using the Taguchi method. Then, the biological properties of the produced polysaccharide including antibacterial activity was investigated by bacterial colony counting method, antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical, and antiproliferative effect on 5 cancer cell lines MKN-45, AGS, A549, KYSE-30 and 5637 using MTS test.

   The concentration of MgSO4.7H2O and initial pH had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the production of F. fomentarius polysaccharide and in optimal conditions polysaccharide production reaches 5.410 g/L. The polysaccharide of this fungus inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria by 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of this polysaccharide in the DPPH test is 16.11%. The antiproliferative effect of this polysaccharide on cancer cells is different (KYSE-30> A549 5637> AGS> MKN-45). This effect increases with increasing concentration. In KYSE-30 cell line treatment with 200 g/mL polysaccharide, cell viability reaches 40% after 72 hours.

  Optimizing the culture medium of the medicinal fungus Fomes fomentarius increases the production of polysaccharides up to 5.410 g/L. Optimization increases the biological activity of polysaccharides. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli is 50% and 25%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of polysaccharides is 16.11% and the viability of KYSE-30 cancer cells reaches 40% after 72 hours.

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in the world. Damaging effects of diabetes include advanced metabolic complications and various organ lesions. More than 90% of diabetic cases belong to type 2 diabetes. For decades, medicinal fungi such as Trametes versicolorhave been considered as treatments for diabetes. The fungi exopolysaccharides show α-glucosidase activity in the intestinal membrane.

In this study, Iranian Trametes versicolorwas cultured in various media based on soy milk, cow milk and soy protein extraction. After selecting appropriate culture media for biomass and exopolysaccharide production, response surface method with Box-Behnken design was used to investigate effects of independent variables of glucose (g l-1), soy milk (v v-1) and pH on biomass and exopolysaccharide production and optimization of these products. An animal (rat) model of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was used to investigate effects of exopolysaccharides on diabetes.Rats were treated with exopolysaccharides for 21 days.

Results showed that the culture media containing soy milk was appropriate for the growth and production of fungal products. Productions of biomass and exopolysaccharides increased to 2.87 gl-1 and 1.37 g l-1 respectively. Based on the analysis of response surface method, pH with p-value of 0.0004 and pH and soybean interaction with p-value of 0.0129 included significant effects on exopolysaccharide production. In optimum condition of the culture media with pH 4.67, 13.01 g l-1 glucose and 75% v v-1 soybean milk, biomass and exopolysaccharides reached 21.80 g l-1 and 9.6 g l-1. In diabetic rat model treated with exopolysaccharides, a 50.38% decrease in blood glucose was seen while triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins included 89, 20 and 21.67%, respectively. Furthermore, high-density lipoproteins increased by nearly 5.12%.

Research subject: 

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegnerative disorder with no treatment due to the blood brain barrier (BBB) existence. The cure for this disease is Dopamine a chemical molecule.

Research approach: 

This study investigates biodegradable naoparticles (NPs) carrying dopamine (DA) across the blood-brain barrier. Ion polymerization and solvent methods were used to achieve this goal. Particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release behavior, at pH 7 were examined.

The empty nanoparticles and drug-loaded nanoparticles were found to be spherical in shape and fluffy exterior, with mono-modal size distribution and negative zeta-potentials of increasing average sizes 90 to 120 nm simultaneously. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra demonstrated the polymerization of nBCA monomers and encapsulation of DA inside poly (butylcyanoacrylate) (PBCA).Thermal characteristics of the copolymer were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Drug loading efficiency was around 25%.The in-vitro drug release profile of DA -loaded PBCA nanoparticles prepared from ion polymerization following solution techniques exhibited a gradual release; more than 20 ٪w/w of the drug was released after 51 h. The results showed that the DA-PBCA nanocapsules could be an effective carrier for hydrophilic agents. In this study, PBCA-NSPs were successfully generated as a delivery system for DA, providing a promising approach to improve the therapy of PDs.

Nanosilver is a nanotechnology product with antimicrobial property. It can improve efficiency, reduce cost and increase antimicrobial durability and performance of wound dressing.

This research intended to introduce a dressing that accelerated and improved the wound healing process by keeping the wound area moist and simultaneously prevented colonization by microorganisms and wound infection.

Silver nanoparticles were trapped in the pores of calcium alginate sheets, and particle loading on films took place. When this dressing is put on a wound, the silver ions are released in the wound area. After loading the silver nanoparticles; their presence in the calcium alginate structure was confirmed by FE-SEM micrographs. Wounds (2 × 2 cm2) were made on rats’ bodies and images were taken of the wound healing process on the 1st, 7th, and 14th days to study the effect of the dressing on tissues of living organisms.

Characterization of silver nanoparticles was carried out by the DLS test and Zeta potential measurement, in which the values of 61.4 nm and -20.83 mV were obtained, respectively. Antibacterial properties were studied and cell toxicity tests were performed to determine the suitable concentration. Results indicate that the optimum concentration was 100μg/l (or 17.5μg per unit area of the alginate film). Using the ImageJ software, the surface areas of the wounds were calculated, and histological studies were also conducted on wound healing. Moreover, on the 7th and 14th days, samples were taken of them to carry out histopathological investigations, and changes in skin cell shape were studied.

The results of this study suggestthat the dressing accelerates simultaneously the process of wound healing and prevents wound infection and postponement of its repair.
Conflict of interest: non declared

Due to increasing of cancers and production of new anti-cancer drugs for its treatment, in this study, the interaction of new hydrophobic anti-cancer drug paclitaxel with the cell membrane has been discussed using computational tools. We have done molecular dynamics simulation using NAMD and also the initial structures that were achieved from the protein data bank have been modified using VMD package. Langevin algorithm was used for temperature control in 310 K, the human body temperature and the Brandson algorithm was utilized for pressure control in 1 bar. The simulation has been done during 10 ns. The simulation equations were based on Newton’s Motion Law and a Lenard−Jones potential. The anti-cancer drug paclitaxel interaction with the cell membrane has been investigated from the van der Waals energy and center of mass (COM) perspectives that show less stability and low absorption of the drug to the cell membrane. Computational results of this study confirm the validity of previously published computational and laboratory studies. According to the drug hydrophobicity, less stability, low absorption and also low efficacy has been shown in interaction with the cell membrane. As a result, administration of the anti-cancer drug can be very effective and efficient by using new drug delivery methods.

Fiber production in nanoscale prepares high surface contact for fibers and leads to the improvement of their properties with respect to other fibers. A convenient and effective method for nanofiber production with different diameters is electrospinning. Various effective parameters on electrospinning processes, including environmental, equipment, and solution variables can produce fibers with different morphologies. PVA has been used in various fields of applied research because of its high thermal stability, biocompatibility, non-toxic and solubility in water. The published reports indicated that properties of the PVA are improved with the addition of bentonite. In this research, to prepare PVA/nano-bentonite nanofiber membrane, the optimum amounts of three effective variables on the above-mentioned processes were determined. According to the obtained results, the voltage of 11 kV, the feeding rate of 0.5 mL/h and bentonite concentration of 3% w/w were optimum conditions for the process of PVA/nano-bentonite nanofiber composite production. In this condition, the average diameter of produced nanofibers was 243 nm with the standard deviation of 0.0551 and the tensile strength of 7.64 MPa. The results showed that the addition of bentonite to PVA increase intensity of nanofibers and decrease the diameter of nanofibers from 308 nm to 243nm.Therfore, the produced PVA/bentonite nanofiber composite is a good membrane for water treatment.

Ganoderma lucidum is one of the best-known medicinal mushrooms in the world. It contains substantial amounts of intra- and extracellular secondary metabolites and polysaccharides each with its own specific medicinal and medical uses. The chitin-glucan complex (CGC) is considered one of the important polysaccharides of this fungus. Among the 10 various culture media that were studied, the one containing PDB at 24g/l, peptone at 1g/l, and with the dry weight of cells of 11.6 g/l, the produced CGC of 3.2g/l, and with 27.6 percent CGC in the dry weight of the cells was selected as the suitable culture medium. FTIR analysis was performed for characterization of the produced CGC and its antibacterial properties were studied. The obtained time profile for CGC growth and production was 20 days and, using the logistic growth model and the Lodding-Pipet equation, the calculated specific growth rate of Ganoderma lucidum (μm) and the volumetric productivity for the product were 2.85 g CGC L-1day-and 0.5274 day-1, respectively. The calculations indicated there were high degrees of conformance between the model and the laboratory data related to kinetic characteristics of cell growth (R2= 0.9679) and to CGC production (R2=0.9901). Therefore, the introduced kinetic model can serve as an effective guide to control the fermentation process in industrial production of the valuable CGC polymer.

Ganoderma lucidum is a main source of ganoderic acid. This metabolite has pharmaceutical effects such as cancer treatment. However, due to low yields and high prices, clinical application is difficult. Stimulants such as elicitor and mechanical shocks can be used to increase the produce of ganoderic acid effectively. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound on the production of this medicine.
In this study, a liquid culture of the fungus treated with the once and twice at 20 and 200 seconds of sound with a frequency of 50 kHz and constant output power in ultrasonic bath was investigated. After extraction of ganoderic acid and ensure of positive impact of shock, to optimize variables, response surface methodology was used. In this method, 17 experiments with three variables, the first time ultrasound (4, 5, 6 days), the second ultrasound (7, 8, 9 days) and time of ultrasound (60, 180, 300 seconds) by Design Expert software were designed and done.
The results showed that the effects of ultrasound stimulation with twice 274 seconds treatment on days 4 and 7 were established highest ganoderic acid production. By comparing samples with control (without sound) Increase in extracellular ganoderic acid to intracellular ratio was determined. In optimum conditions, 34% increase in GA production relative to the control sample was observed.
Ultrasound can be used as a non-chemical and cheap stimulus, increase ganoderic acid production.

Nicotine can be measured electrochemically using Cu nanoparticles and CNT-modified glassy carbon electrode. The slow electrochemical oxidation makes it difficult to measure the concentration of nicotine electrochemically using normal electrodes.To improve the oxidation rate, different mediators and chemically modified electrodes have been used. In this experiment, concentration of nicotine in aqueous solution was determined using MWCNT-modified glassy carbon electrode in presence of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) as mediator. For this purpose, the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with suspended MWCNT in dimethylformamaide and Cu NPs was electrochemically deposited on MWCNT-GCE subsequently. Also, experimental parameters affecting the deposition of Cu NPs on MWCNT-GCE such as cycles, copper salt concentration and scan rate were found to be optimum at 20 cycles, 1.75 μmol L-1 and 100 mVs-1 respectively. Finally, the modified electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and successfully used to measure the concentration of nicotine in aqueous solution.