The polyaniline/cross-linked collagen sponge (PANI/CCS) was synthesized by polymerizing PANI onto the collagen skeleton using mesoscopic collagen fibrils (CFs) as building blocks, serving as a piezoresistive sensing material. The structure and morphology of PANI/CCS were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal analysis (TA). The mechanical properties of PANI/CCS could be controlled by adjusting the CFs content and polymerization conditions. PANI/CCS treated with pure water exhibited exceptional compressive elasticity under 1000 compression cycles, demonstrating a wide strain range (0-85 %), rapid response time (200 ms), recovery time (90 ms), and high sensitivity (6.72 at 40-50 % strain). The treatment of the ionic liquid further improved the elasticity and the strain sensing range (0-95 %). The presence of PANI nanoparticles and mesoscopic collagen fibrils imparted antibacterial properties, stability in solvents, and biodegradability to PANI/CCS. Utilizing PANI/CCS as a piezoresistive sensing material enabled monitoring human movement behavior through the assembled sensor, showing significant potential for flexible wearable devices.

PM742 (1), a new chemical entity, has been isolated from the sponge Discodermia du Bocage collected in the Pacific Ocean. This compound showed strong in vitro cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines as well as a tubulin depolymerization mechanism of action, which led us to conduct an extensive Structure-Activity-Relationship study through the synthesis of different analogs. As a result, a derivatively named PM534 (2) is currently in its first human Phase I clinical trial. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of the isolation, structural elucidation, and antitumor activities of the parent compound PM742.

BACKGROUND: Microorganisms associated with sea sponges have proven to be good natural product resources that are biologically active and pharmaceutically important.
OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to identify actinomycetes related to a sponge from Bar-ranglompo Island Makassar and the antibacterial compounds.
METHODS: Identification of actinomycetes was based on molecular characterization of sequence gen16S rRNA. The antibacterial compound was separated using vacuum liquid chromatog-raphy and preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The structure determination was done based on spectroscopy 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2D NMR, and mass spectra.
RESULTS: Molecular characterization showed that actinomycetes strain BLP 20 had the closest relationship with Streptomyces parvulus and Uncultured Streptomyces sp. with a similarity value of 83%. The results obtained from the characterization of antibacterial compounds based on spectroscopic data indicate that these compounds lead to Actinomycin D.
CONCLUSIONS: Characterization and identification of Strain 20 / BLP by molecular phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences revealed the closest relationship with Uncultured Streptomy-ces sp and S. parvulus with a similarity value of 83 %, which indicated a new species. The structure of the active compound isolated from actinomycetes strain 20 / BLP leads to Actino-mycin D.

Fibroin, the main structural protein of Bombyx mori silk, is known for its mechanical properties, its biocompatibility and degradation characteristics in vivo. Various studies investigate its uses as cell carrier and/or material for surgical implants. Multiple protocols have been established to isolate fibroin from silk fibers and to produce scaffolds and films from fibroin solution. There is only limited literature available on how fibroin scaffolds manufactured by different methods compare to each other in terms of performance as cell carriers. This study compares the behaviour of human adipose derived stromal cells (ADSC) seeded on fibroin scaffolds produced by (i) salt-leaching and (ii) freeze-thawing. One type of freeze-thawing scaffold (poresize ≪ 315 μm) and three types of salt-leaching scaffolds (poresize ranging from 315 μm to 1000 μm) were used for this comparison. Measuring the DNA concentration on the seeded scaffolds as well as the seeded cells metabolic activity, we were able to determine freeze-thawed scaffolds to be superior for cell-seeding. ADSC seeded on salt-leaching scaffolds displayed a stronger downregulation of serum deprivation response gene than cells seeded on freeze-thaw scaffolds. In sum, our findings show that salt-leaching scaffolds offering different pore sizes differed much less among each other than salt-leaching from freeze-thawing scaffolds in terms of cell accommodation. Our work underlines the importance of physicochemical scaffold properties directly linked to different manufacturing methods and their influence on the cell seeding capacity of silk fibroin based carriers.

Sponges (phylum Porifera) harbour specific microbial communities that drive the ecology and evolution of the host. Understanding the structure and dynamics of these communities is emerging as a primary focus in marine microbial ecology research. Much of the work to date has focused on sponges from warm and shallow coastal waters, while sponges from the deep ocean remain less well studied. Here, we present a metataxonomic analysis of the microbial consortia associated with 23 individual deep-sea sponges. We identify a high abundance of archaea relative to bacteria across these communities, with certain sponge microbiomes comprising more than 90 % archaea. Specifically, the archaeal family Nitrosopumilaceae is prolific, comprising over 99 % of all archaeal reads. Our analysis revealed that sponge microbial communities reflect the host sponge phylogeny, indicating a key role for host taxonomy in defining microbiome composition. Our work confirms the contribution of both evolutionary and environmental processes to the composition of microbial communities in deep-sea sponges.

Issues of size and power consumption in IoT devices can be addressed through triboelectricity-driven energy harvesting technology, which generates electrical signals without external power sources or batteries. This technology significantly reduces the complexity of devices, enhances installation flexibility, and minimizes power consumption. By utilizing shear thickening fluid (STF), which exhibits variable viscosity upon external impact, the sensitivity of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG)-based sensors can be adjusted. For this study, the highest electrical outputs of STF and sponge-hybrid TENG (SSH-TENG) devices under various input forces and frequencies were generated with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 98 V and a short-circuit current (ISC) of 4.5 µA. The maximum power density was confirmed to be 0.853 mW/m2 at a load resistance of 30 MΩ. Additionally, a lying state detection system for use in medical settings was implemented using SSH-TENG as a hybrid triboelectric motion sensor (HTMS). Each unit of a 3 × 2 HTMS array, connected to a half-wave rectifier and 1 MΩ parallel resistor, was interfaced with an MCU. Real-time detection of the patient\'s condition through the HTMS array could enable the early identification of hazardous situations and alerts. The proposed HTMS continuously monitors the patient\'s movements, promptly identifying areas prone to pressure ulcers, thus effectively contributing to pressure ulcer prevention.

To mitigate environmental and health risks associated with the use of halogenated flame retardants, effective halogen-free solutions have been extensively explored. In this study, melamine/boric acid/phosphoric acid (MBP)‑sodium alginate (SA) sponge was synthesized by treating MBP ternary supramolecules with microwave irradiation via one-pot, facile, and speedy synthesis, obtaining an MBP-SA sponge, a polysaccharide biopolymer. Crosslinking of SA with Ca2+ ion formed an intact network, and this was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thereafter, the flame retardancy of the as-synthesized SA/MBP sponge was investigated by exposing it to a spirit lamp and a Bunsen burner; the sponge remained intact for up to 540 s and 370 s, respectively, demonstrating the enhanced flame retardancy of MBP supramolecules in the SA/MBP sponge. The limiting oxygen index of the SA/MBP sponge was up to 62 %, demonstrating the self-extinguishing and thermal insulation properties of the as-synthesized sponge. The findings of this study provide insights for developing a new strategy to use SA/MBP sponges for fire protection.

Efficient management of hemorrhage is vital for preventing hemorrhagic shock and safeguarding wounds against infection. Inspired by the traditional Chinese steamed bread-making process, which involves kneading, foaming, and steaming, we devised a hemostatic sponge by amalgamating an acellular dermal matrix gel, hydroxyethyl starch, and rice hydrolyzed protein. The integration of hydroxyethyl starch bolstered the sponge\'s mechanical and hemostatic attributes, while the inclusion of rice hydrolyzed protein, acting as a natural foaming agent, enhanced its porosity This augmentation facilitated rapid blood absorption, accelerated clot formation, and stimulated the clotting cascade. Experimental findings underscore the exceptional biocompatibility and physicochemical characteristics of the hemostatic sponge, positioning it on par with commercially available collagen hemostatic sponges for hemorrhage control. Mechanistically, the sponge fosters aggregation and activation of red blood cells and platelets, expediting coagulation kinetics both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, this hemostatic sponge activates the clotting cascade sans crosslinking agents, offering a premium yet cost-effective biomaterial with promising clinical applicability.

Frequent oil spill accidents caused by transportation, storage and usage may lead to severe damage on aquatic and ecological environments. Effective methods for rapid oil recovery are urgently in demand. Polyvinyl chloride, hydrophobic nano-SiO2, expanded graphite were separately applied to polyurethane and melamine sponge to fabricate superhydrophobic sponge material. The selected superhydrophobic sponge was introduced to establish sponge - covered disc skimmer. Oil recovery tests of the device were conducted to determine the optimum parameters. The examined operating conditions encompassed sponge thickness, immersion depth, rotational speed, oil slick thickness, operation time. The results showed that the melamine sponge modified by both polyvinyl chloride and hydrophobic nano-SiO2 exhibits super-hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 150.3°. The absorption capacity for diesel oil can reach 53.89 g/g. The absorption capacity can still achieve 90 % of its initial capacity even after 500 extrusion-absorption separation tests. The results indicate the superiority of the superhydrophobic sponge covered surface in oil recovery over the standard steel surface regardless of the operating conditions. The recovery rate of the device can still achieve 96.4 % of its initial capacity with 95 % efficiency even after 85 h operation. The results suggest the superhydrophobic sponge - covered disc skimmer may have great application perspectives in oil spill recovery.

Five new sulfated arylpyrrole and arylpyrrolone alkaloids, denigrins H-L (1-5), along with two known compounds, dictyodendrin B and denigrin G, were isolated from an extract of a New Zealand Dictyodendrilla c.f. dendyi marine sponge. Denigrins H-L represent the first examples of sulfated denigrins, with denigrins H and I (1-2), as derivatives of denigrin D, containing a pyrrolone core, and denigrins J-L (3-5), as derivatives of denigrin E (6), containing a pyrrole core. Their structures were elucidated by interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, ESI, and HR-ESI-MS spectrometric data, as well as comparison with literature data. Compounds 1-5, along with six known compounds previously isolated from the same extract, showed minimal cytotoxicity against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line.