Burn injuries are difficult to manage due to the defect of large skin tissues, leading to major disability or even death. Human fibroblast growth factor 2 (hFGF2) is known to promote burn wound healing. However, direct administration of hFGF2 to the wound area would affect the bioactivity. To provide a supportive environment for hFGF2 and control its release in a steady fashion, in this research, we developed novel thermosensitive poloxam hydrogels delivered with hFGF2-linked Camelina lipid droplets (CLD-hFGF2 hydrogels). Cryopreserved scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the incorporation of CLD-hFGF2 does not significantly affect the inner structure of hydrogels. The rheological properties showed that CLD-hFGF2 hydrogels gelated in response to temperature, thus optimizing the delivery method. In vitro, CLD-hFGF2 could be released from hydrogels for 3 days after drug delivery (the release rate was 72%), and the release solution could still promote the proliferation and migration of NIH3T3 cells. In vivo, compared with hydrogels alone or with direct CLD-hFGF2 administration, CLD-hFGF2 hydrogels had the most obvious effect on deep second-degree burn wound healing. This work indicates that CLD-hFGF2 hydrogels have potential application value in burn wound healing.

Transdermal administration of chemo therapeutics into burn healing may be an effective treatment to reduce toxic side effects and improve patient compliance for burns. As a transdermal delivery system, Camelina lipid droplets (CLDs) have received great attention due to their biocompatibility, high drug payload, and rapid absorption. However, the absorbed-related mechanisms of Camelina lipid droplets have not yet been reported. Thus, this paper not only demonstrated that CLD can accelerate skin burn healing through promoting hFGF2 absorption, but also elucidated the mechanism between the skin tissue and keratinocytes using Franz, HE staining, DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy with the presence of CLD-hFGF2 freeze-dried powder. We found that the cumulative release rate of CLD-hFGF2 freeze-dried powder was significantly higher than that of free hFGF2 freeze-dried powder into the skin. At the same time, CLD can change the structure and content of lipids and keratin to increase the permeability of hFGF2 freeze-dried powder in skin tissue. Unlike the free state of hFGF2, the biophysical properties of single cells, including height and adhesion force, were changed under CLD-hFGF2 freeze-dried powder treatment. Meanwhile, CLD-hFGF2 freeze-dried powder was more easily taken up through keratinocytes without damaging cell integrity, which provided a new viewpoint for understanding the absorption mechanism with the CLD system for cellular physiology characteristics. Overall, our findings demonstrated that CLD could break through the stratum corneum (SC) barrier and elucidated the transport mechanism of lipid droplets in skin tissue, which provides a crucial guideline in drug delivery applications for future engineering.

Renal fibrosis (RF) represents a major pathological outcome of chronic kidney disease, currently accompanied by extremely limited therapeutic strategies. To decipher key cellular and molecular drivers, we integrated single-cell and bulk transcriptomic profiles for comprehensive analysis. Based on the RF-related single-cell and bulk transcriptomic data, key cell subtypes were identified through Scissor analysis, custom signature matrix construction via CIBERSORTx, and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Subsequently, key subtype-related biomarkers were identified through the expression analysis, and functional enrichment analysis for biomarkers was conducted to elucidate the potential mechanisms by which biomarkers regulate RF. Through comprehensive profiling, thick ascending limb (TAL) cells were predominant and displayed marked heterogeneity in renal fibrosis (RF), with cortical TAL (CTAL) and adaptive TAL (aTAL) identified as principal subtypes. A set of candidate biomarkers was identified. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validation in mouse models confirmed aberrant expression of these biomarkers, with STAT1 and PARP8 upregulated and HS6ST2, PTGER3, and TMEM207 downregulated in RF. Furthermore, functional enrichment analyses indicated that these biomarkers were associated with pathways underlying metabolic reprogramming and immune perturbation. Our study implicates CTAL and aTAL as central cellular players in RF and identifies their associated biomarkers. These experimentally validated biomarkers provide novel targets and repurposing opportunities for RF therapeutic intervention.

Waste molasses (WM), a carbon rich by-product of sugar production, is frequently underutilized, resulting in environmental pollution and resource loss. In this study, a one-step microbial bioconversion process using Bacillus subtilis was developed to transform WM into molasses derived fulvic acid (MFA). The highest MFA yield (33.54%) was achieved at 35 °C, 48 h, and a 5% inoculation rate. Integrated GC-MS and LC-MS analyses revealed dynamic substrate transformation during fermentation and suggested that 4-hydroxy-2-methylacetophenone, 4-oxododecanedioic acid, and 3-hydroxy-2-octylpentanedioic acid were putative intermediates involved in MFA formation. Structural characterization showed that the resulting MFA possessed a loose, porous morphology and abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl groups. In a single 150 d field trial, MFA application was associated with higher soil organic carbon and humus contents than the unfertilized control and promoted maize vegetative growth. MFA also enriched the microbial communities including Pseudomonas , Acidobacterium , Actinobacteria , and Bacteroidetes . The abundance of several genes related to carbon assimilation and carboxylation, including rbcL , rbcS , accB , accC , and pccA , has also increased. Metabolomic analysis further revealed shifts in metabolites associated with central carbon metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway MFA application also markedly promoted maize growth without chemical fertilizer input, demonstrating its potential as an organic soil amendment and partial fertilizer substitute. Collectively, these findings suggest that a one-step microbial transformation can convert WM into functional fulvic-like acid fertilizer. This method provides a potential route for mineral derived FA production. Simultaneously combining the reuse of agricultural waste, improvement of soil quality, reduction of partial fertilizer dependence, and development of circular agriculture.