Development Center for Biotechnology

• Thermosensitive liposome hydrogel enables on-demand, sustained pain relief.. • External ice application precisely triggers lidocaine release for controlled analgesia. • Inhibits cancer–nerve interactions, reducing risk of recurrence and metastasis. Postoperative pain management and tumor recurrence remain major challenges in cancer surgery, with few strategies addressing both simultaneously. Here, we report a thermosensitive, in situ-forming hydrogel system (POIL) composed of lidocaine-loaded liposomes embedded in a Pluronic F127 matrix for dual-function postoperative therapy. The POIL hydrogel exhibited a sol–gel transition, which enabled localized gelation upon minimally invasive injection. When administered around the sciatic nerve or applied to the postoperative tumor resection site, the POIL provided sustained release of lidocaine over four days. Additionally, ice packing triggered a burst release of lidocaine by lowering the local temperature, thereby enabling on-demand pain relief. In vivo studies confirmed that repeated application of ice packs prolonged the analgesic effect of POIL to more than 100 h and reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in muscle tissues, without causing significant tissue toxicity. Furthermore, the released lidocaine inhibited Schwann cell migration and suppressed interactions between cancer cells and nerve fibers by downregulating NGF expression in the tumor microenvironment. These effects contributed to the effective prevention of postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis in 4 T1 tumor-bearing mice. These results demonstrated the clinical potential of POIL as a patient-controllable hydrogel system for simultaneous pain management and cancer recurrence prevention.

Over the past decade, numerous infectious diseases have emerged. In 2022, the World Health Organization declared the Mpox outbreak a global public health emergency, as the virus spread rapidly to over 107 countries. As of May 2023, Taiwan continued to observe sporadic instances of the disease. Understanding host cell susceptibility and viral inactivation conditions is crucial for elucidating viral mechanisms and developing effective antiviral therapies or vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the susceptibility of commonly utilized laboratory cell lines to the Mpox virus by serial passage and assessed various conditions for virus inactivation, such as heat treatment or reacting with multiple reagents. Our results revealed that the Mpox virus could infect multiple cell lines, with the BSC-1 cell line being the most susceptible. Heating at 56°C for 10 min or longer rendered the virus non-infectious, indicating its thermosensitivity. Furthermore, widely used reagents, such as TRIzol, alcohol, Micro-Chem Plus, bleach, and formalin, completely inactivated the virus at recommended concentrations. However, radioimmunoprecipitation assay buffer without SDS should be used with caution, as it may not fully eliminate infectious particles. Our results provide pivotal reference data for future studies and standardization efforts in Mpox virus research, enhancing our understanding and management of this emerging pathogen.IMPORTANCEThe global resurgence of Mpox highlights the urgent need for robust diagnostic, therapeutic, and biosafety strategies. However, critical gaps remain regarding its replication across various cell types and the effectiveness of disinfection methods. This study systematically evaluates the susceptibility of commonly used laboratory and clinical cell lines to Mpox virus, providing key insights to optimize viral isolation in research and diagnostic settings. Additionally, by assessing the effectiveness of standard disinfectants against Mpox, this work strengthens biosafety protocols for healthcare and high-containment laboratories. These findings have direct implications for public health preparedness, guiding both laboratory practices and biosafety measures.

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a critical global environmental concern. This study investigated atmospheric MPs in Taiwan from April to December 2021 across three sites—Rural, Municipal Waste Incinerator (MWI), and Traffic—using a 25 μm size threshold. MPs were identified using μ-FTIR and Py-GC–MS. Concentrations were highest at the Traffic site (0.26 #/m3), followed by MWI (0.15 #/m3) and Rural (0.13 #/m3), with no detection at the background site (Mt. Lulin). Dry and wet deposition fluxes ranged from 4.29 to 11.8 #/m2/day. Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polyamide (PA) were the most common polymers, with site-specific variations suggesting sources such as traffic, incineration, and industrial activities. Py-GC–MS detected PE, PTFE, PEI, and various additives. Estimated human exposure via inhalation ranged from 0.031–0.131 #/kg-bw/day, and ingestion from 0.010–0.335 #/kg-bw/day. These findings highlight the presence of airborne MPs in both urban and rural environments, underlining the need for regulatory action and further research on health impacts. Graphical Abstract

Background: Cancer and fibrotic diseases represent major global health challenges, underscoring the need for safe, multifunctional natural therapies. Although natural products possess notable anticancer properties, their clinical translation is often hindered by non-selective cytotoxicity toward normal cells. Moreover, their therapeutic potential against chronic conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a natural hydrosol blend, The Greatest Love of Nature (TGLON), in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and mitigating IPF. Methods: TGLON, composed of 12 steam-distilled plant hydrosols, was chemically characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Its cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay against five human cancer cell lines (A-549, HepG2, MCF-7, MKN-45, and MOLT-4) and normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). In vivo safety and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats and a bleomycin-induced IPF mouse model, following protocols approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Results: TGLON maintained >90% viability in MRC-5 cells at an 80-fold dilution and significantly inhibited the proliferation of A-549 (41%), HepG2 (84%), MCF-7 (50%), MKN-45 (38%), and MOLT-4 (52%) cells. No signs of toxicity were observed in rats administered TGLON orally at 50% (v/v), 10 mL/kg. In mice, TGLON alleviated bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Conclusions: TGLON exhibited selective anticancer and anti-fibrotic activities under non-toxic conditions, supporting its potential as a bioactive agent for early-stage disease prevention and non-clinical health maintenance.

[[abstract]]In this article the affiliation details for Teng-Kuang Yeh were incorrectly given as “AltruBio Taiwan R&D Center, Taipei 114063, Taiwan” but should have been “Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan”. The original article has been corrected. In this article the e-mail address of the corresponding author Lun Kelvin Tsou was incorrect. The original article has been corrected.

Natural products are an important source for developing anti-cancer agents. Previously, we identified the anti-cancer flavonoid protoapigenone from Thelypteris torresiana (Gaud.) and synthesized its derivative, WYC-0209, with improved anti-cancer properties. In this study, to further optimize this protoapigenone derivative for better therapeutic efficacy, various functional groups were introduced onto its naphthalene ring, and their anti-cancer properties were evaluated. A total of eighteen WYC-0209 derivatives were synthesized, among which the derivative containing two units of the isopentyl-substituted side chain exhibited superior cytotoxicity against cancer cells and was named WYC-241. Further investigation in A549 lung cancer cells showed that WYC-241 significantly inhibited colony formation (proliferation) and suppressed cell migration (mobility). Additionally, WYC-241 induced both necrosis and apoptosis, potentially through a substantial increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo studies showed that weekly intravenous (i.v.) injection of WYC-241 significantly suppressed tumor growth in mice. In silico ADMET analysis further indicated that WYC-241 possesses drug-like properties. Collectively, this study suggests that WYC-241 is a promising candidate for further development as a novel anti-cancer therapy and provides a foundation for future drug design and optimization.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a significant cause of foodborne illness worldwide, with increasing antimicrobial resistance posing a public health concern. Salmonella enterica serovar Blockley (S. Blockley) is relatively uncommon, and its antimicrobial resistance profile and population structure have been understudied. This study presents a comprehensive genomic analysis of 264 S. Blockley isolates from diverse geographical regions to elucidate antimicrobial resistance patterns and population structure. Bayesian analysis classified these genomes into 10 distinct groups (BAPS A to BAPS J), further categorized into two lineages, R and S. Lineage R comprised six BAPS clusters (BAPSs A-F), predominantly found in Asia and Africa, all of which harbored the azithromycin resistance gene mph(A) and other resistance determinants. In contrast, lineage S, lacking mph(A), comprised the remaining four BAPS clusters, which were primarily found in Europe and the Americas. Several types of mutations in gyrA were found in lineage R, which were specific to BAPS clusters. These BAPS clusters exhibited distinct geographic distributions, with BAPS B, BAPS D, and BAPS E unique to China, Taiwan, and Japan, respectively, while BAPS H and BAPS I were predominantly found in the United States. Temporal phylogenetic analysis suggested that lineage R diverged in the 1980s, with notable microevolutionary changes. The presence of a genomic island with mph(A), aph(3')-Ia, aph(3")-Ib, aph(6)-Id, and tet(A) in lineage R underscores the public health threat, highlighting a need for continuous surveillance.IMPORTANCEAntimicrobial resistance in Salmonella is a global public health concern. In this study, we focused on serovar Blockley, and a whole-genome analysis revealed its global population structure. The results revealed the existence of azithromycin-resistant strains, which were characterized both phylogenetically and geographically. The resistance genes were transmitted via genomic islands, and their micro-scale evolution was also revealed. Our findings are the first to reveal the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes, including azithromycin, in serovar Blockley, and provide valuable insights into understanding the spread of antimicrobial resistance.