Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element required for respiration, neurotransmitter synthesis, oxidative stress response, and transcriptional regulation. Imbalance in Cu homeostasis can lead to several pathological conditions, affecting neuronal, cognitive, and muscular development. Mechanistically, Cu and Cu-binding proteins (Cu-BPs) have an important but underappreciated role in transcription regulation in mammalian cells. In this context, our lab investigates the contributions of novel Cu-BPs in skeletal muscle differentiation using murine primary myoblasts. Through an unbiased synchrotron X-ray fluorescence-mass spectrometry (XRF/MS) metalloproteomic approach, we identified the murine cysteine rich intestinal protein 2 (mCrip2) in a sample that showed enriched Cu signal, which was isolated from differentiating primary myoblasts derived from mouse satellite cells. Immunolocalization analyses showed that mCrip2 is abundant in both nuclear and cytosolic fractions. Thus, we hypothesized that mCrip2 might have differential roles depending on its cellular localization in the skeletal muscle lineage. mCrip2 is a LIM-family protein with 4 conserved Zn ²⁺ -binding sites. Homology and phylogenetic analyses showed that mammalian Crip2 possesses histidine residues near two of the Zn ²⁺ -binding sites (CX2C-HX2C) which are potentially implicated in Cu ⁺ -binding and competition with Zn ²⁺ . Biochemical characterization of recombinant human hsCRIP2 revealed a high Cu ⁺ -binding affinity for two and four Cu ⁺ ions and limited redox potential. Functional characterization using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of mCrip2 in primary myoblasts did not impact proliferation, but impaired myogenesis by decreasing the expression of differentiation markers, possibly attributed to Cu accumulation. Transcriptome analyses of proliferating and differentiating mCrip2 KO myoblasts showed alterations in mRNA processing, protein translation, ribosome synthesis, and chromatin organization. CUT&RUN analyses showed that mCrip2 associates with a select set of gene promoters, including MyoD1 and metallothioneins , acting as a novel Cu-responsive or Cu-regulating protein. Our work demonstrates novel regulatory functions of mCrip2 that mediate skeletal muscle differentiation, presenting new features of the Cu-network in myoblasts.

Nanomaterials applications are growing at an incredible pace in a wide variety of fields. Being a relatively new technological field, the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials has not kept pace with the fast commercialization of nanotechnology products; hence, the information about the associated toxicity and persistence in the environment must be addressed to consolidate proper methodologies for assessment of toxicology as well as life cycle assessment. This review aims to give an appropriate understanding of novel nanomaterials in environmental applications, their fate in the environment, and transformations due to external factors. Finally, the authors address the efforts made in risk assessment and toxicology frameworks by international and regional organizations emphasizing current challenges.

Water pollution is a global problem that severely impacts human and environmental health, water recycling, and the economy. In Mexico, due to water scarcity, potable water contains significant amounts of heavy metals (i.e., arsenic (As)); thus, there is a need for efficient and sustainable water treatment strategies. Bismuth oxyhalides, BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I), exhibit three-dimensional (3D) porous structures suitable for efficient adsorption activity. In addition, bismuth is an abundant and biocompatible element appropriate for fabricating sustainable environmental remediation technologies, such as adsorptive BiOX nanomaterials (NMs). In this study, we examine the adsorption capacity of BiOX (X = Cl, I), BiOX-GO (GO: graphene oxide) and GO NMs to remove methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and arsenite (AsO₃³⁻) from aqueous solution. BiOCl-GO 10%, BiOI, BiOI-GO 1%, BiOI-GO 10% and GO have an enhanced adsorption capacity, removing MB (20 ppm) within one hour using a low dose of NMs (1 mg/mL). In addition, BiOX-GO NMs can be easily separated from the solution and regenerated upon visible light activation due to the photocatalytic activity of the materials. The efficiency of the NMs under study for MO removal decreases, with the GO material having the highest efficiency (96%), followed by BiOX-GO 10% (78%). BiOCl-GO 1% removes arsenic from aqueous solution at low doses and short treatment times; 5 mg As/g adsorbent takes five hours; however, at longer adsorption times (24 h), BiOI-GO 1% excels in its arsenic removal capacity. Perlite-supported BiOCl NMs exhibit a weak capacity for water treatment due to the poor mechanical strength of perlite and the amount of surface-exposed BiOCl material. For the photocatalytic removal of arsenic (oxidation–adsorption), BiOI-GO 1% excels in arsenic removal with efficiencies > 70%.

This study addresses the thermodynamic aspects of galactose oxidase (GAOx) adsorption and redox behavior on gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) derived from thiocarboxylic acids, namely N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA), mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), and L-cysteine (Cys). The electrochemical response of GAOx immobilized on these SAM-modified surfaces was analyzed to extract key thermodynamic parameters governing enzyme–electrode interactions, including the formal redox potential (E°), surface excess (Γ), potential of zero charge (E_zc), adsorption free energy (∆G_add), differential capacitance (C_dl), and surface tension (γ). The results demonstrate that the nature of the terminal functional group of the SAM significantly influences the thermodynamic stabilization of GAOx at the gold interface. Shifts in the redox potential are attributed to specific coordination and electrostatic interactions between the SAM functional groups and the GAOx metal center, leading to distinct interfacial energy landscapes. Overall, the SAM-modified electrodes provide a well-defined thermodynamic framework to probe enzyme orientation, interfacial charge distribution, and stabilization of the redox-active state of GAOx during direct electron transfer. These results offer guidelines based on thermodynamic and kinetic principles for customizing enzyme–electrode interfaces, which can enhance the efficiency, stability, and consistency of third-generation electrochemical biosensors.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically devastating diseases that affect the swine industry worldwide. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are the gold standard for analyzing antibodies against viruses, they have some limitations, such as sample transport and analysis times and cost. Rapid serological surveillance of PRRSV remains a critical challenge for swine health management. Immunosensors are feasible diagnostic alternatives, where antigen–antibody interactions can be immediately quantitatively determined. Electrochemical sensor operation is based on changes in interfacial electron transfer at the working electrode surface, which are monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In this approach, a redox probe ([Fe(CN)₆]³⁻/[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻) is used to evaluate the charge-transfer resistance (R_ct) at the electrode interface. Variations in analyte concentration lead to changes in the interfacial properties of the electrode, particularly after biomolecular interactions such as antibody binding. These interactions hinder electron transfer, resulting in an increase in R_ct. The analytical signal is therefore based on the correlation between the change in R_ct (ΔR_ct) and the concentration of the target analyte, enabling quantitative analysis through calibration plots. The goal was the establishment of a peptide based electrochemical immunosensor for quantifying antibodies against PRRSV. Gold electrode functionalization was characterized using EIS, the GP5-B peptide, and casein protein. Balb/c mice were immunized according to control, BSA-immunized, and GP5-B peptide-immunized groups. Control pigs were free from the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) and nonvaccinated. Vaccinated pigs were injected using commercial Ingelvac vaccine according to the manufacturer's instructions, and naturally infected pigs were also included in the study. Antibodies were measured using ELISA assays and an immunosensor. The immunosensor recognized antigen–antibody interactions, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6 ng mL⁻¹, a repeatability of intra-assay CV of 5.05%, and a reproducibility inter-assay CV of 4.08% through batch to batch. Additionally, it achieved a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of at least 93%. Considering all the data, compared to immunoglobulin G detection via ELISAs, the proposed peptide-based electrochemical immunosensor is valuable for detecting antibodies against PRRSV. These results suggest the feasibility of biosensors for serological diagnosis in pigs.

As global plastic production and inadequate waste management continue to increase, fragmentation and weathering accelerate the widespread occurrence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) across environmental compartments. In this context, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), particularly electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), have emerged as promising strategies for addressing MNPs contamination due to the generation of reactive species capable of inducing polymer transformation. Their performance depends on numerous factors including polymer properties, treatment configuration, electrode material, current density, supporting electrolyte, additives, and hybrid enhancement strategies. To date, most studies have been conducted under simplified laboratory conditions using heterogeneous protocols. However, in actual environmental and wastewater matrices, radical scavengers and coexisting constituents can suppress oxidation and alter degradation pathways. Moreover, particle-size reduction and changes in surface chemistry are often interpreted as degradation without confirming mineralization, carbon balance, transformation-product fate, or reduced toxicity. While electrochemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques provide complementary information for monitoring these transformations, harmonized analytical workflows remain insufficiently adopted. Based on this critical assessment, this review integrates advanced oxidation and electrochemical strategies for MNPs treatment and monitoring, focusing on degradation mechanisms, electrochemical detection, complementary characterization, transformation products, toxicity, real-matrix effects, and scale-up challenges.