Abstract: Proanthocyanidin-cinnamaldehydes pyrylium products (FP) were synthesized by the condensation reaction of proantho-cyanidins (PAC) with various cinnamaldehydes. Synthesized FP exhibited fluorescence at higher excitation and emission wavelengths than PAC. FP were evaluated for their ability to agglutinate extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). Results showed that FP were significantly more bioactive (p-value<0.05) for agglutinating ExPEC compared to PAC. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that FP interacts with ExPEC surface structures and suggests that FP have higher affinity with the fimbriae-like structures on the surface of ExPEC in comparison to PAC. In addition, fluorescent microscopy performed on in vitro and in vivo agglutination assays show that FP entrap ExPEC in a web-like network, thus demonstrating agglutination of ExPEC. Fluorescent proanthocyanidins offer a new approach to visualize bacterial infections and to treat such infections.

Abstract: Methods of purifying mucin, purified mucin, and products comprising the purified mucin. The methods include combining a mucin-containing substance with water and one or more purification agents to form a purification mixture, incubating the purification mixture for a time sufficient to form a mucin precipitate in a liquid phase, and separating the mucin precipitate from the liquid phase. The purification agents include one or more of a surfactant, a chelating agent, and a protic solvent. The mucin purified from the methods can be used alone or in combination with a biopolymer such as a tannin and chitosan and can be used to generate materials in the form of a gel, a foam, a film, or a powder.

Abstract: Composite nanofibers comprising polymers and tannins, methods of making same, and methods of use. The nanofibers include a polymer, such as a synthetic polymer, and a tannin. The tannin can include condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) and/or hydrolyzable tannins. The nanofibers exhibit a number of structural and functional characteristics, such as enhanced swelling in aqueous liquid, enhanced antibacterial activity, enhanced bacterial adsorption, enhanced fibroblast adhesion, enhanced fibroblast proliferation, and enhanced surface coating of silver nanoparticles, among others. The nanofibers can be made by electrospinning a solvent mixture comprising the synthetic polymer and the tannin in a solvent. The nanofibers can be used in methods of isolating cells, methods of filtration, and methods of detecting cells, among others.

Abstract: Methods of purifying mucin, purified mucin, and products comprising the purified mucin. The methods include combining a mucin-containing substance with water and one or more purification agents to form a purification mixture, incubating the purification mixture for a time sufficient to form a mucin precipitate in a liquid phase, and separating the mucin precipitate from the liquid phase. The purification agents include one or more of a surfactant, a chelating agent, and a protic solvent. The mucin purified from the methods can be used alone or in combination with a biopolymer such as a tannin and chitosan and can be used to generate materials in the form of a gel, a foam, a film, or a powder.