This study explores an ethanol/ammonium sulfate aqueous two-phase system as a greener extraction strategy for a four-herb mixture designed for acne-prone skin. The ATPS method effectively enriched phenolic and flavonoid compounds and enhanced antioxidant activity, with the N12 fraction showing the strongest chemical performance. However, zebrafish assays indicated that the crude extract had a better safety profile and stronger biological suitability. Based on these findings, the crude extract was incorporated into prototype cleanser and spot gel serum formulations, among which the cleanser showed promising antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against acne-related microorganisms.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in bioactive peptide development for cosmetic applications. It summarizes peptide classification, biological mechanisms, production strategies, stabilization technologies, and emerging discovery platforms. By integrating synthetic biology, high-throughput screening, and artificial intelligence-driven design, this work highlights new opportunities for developing multifunctional, efficient, and next-generation peptide-based cosmetic ingredients.

Announcing a new publication from Opto-Electronic Advances; DOI  10.29026/oea.2026.250281.

Announcing a new publication from Opto-Electronic Advances; DOI  10.29026/oea.2026.250299.

Plants can distinguish between closely related beneficial bacterial strains and respond differently depending on the dose they receive. 

A study published in Systems Microbiology and Biomanufacturing reports a significant breakthrough in the microbial production of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Researchers successfully engineered a high-producing strain of Enterococcus faecalis, designated EM05, achieving a GABA titer of 64.2 g/L in a 3 L bioreactor. This was accomplished through a combinatorial strategy involving atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis, microdroplet cultivation (MMC) based adaptive evolution, and systematic fermentation medium optimization.

Researchers have developed a novel chemo-biological hybrid system that enables the direct synthesis of polylactic acid from CO₂, water, and renewable energy. By engineering Escherichia coli to utilize ethanol and acetate, this study establishes a sustainable route for bioplastic manufacturing that decouples agricultural feedstocks. The work highlights a synergistic cofeeding strategy that significantly enhances PLA titer, offering a promising solution to the environmental challenges associated with fossil-fuel and crop-based plastics.

Researchers in China have designed an exploratory randomized controlled trial protocol to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effects of a 12-month home-based strength training program delivered at three different intensities in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The findings are expected to provide critical data to guide future larger-scale trials and evidence-based exercise prescriptions.

A new mechanism based on Nuciferine, a bioactive alkaloid from lotus leaf, to ameliorate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-induced Cognitive Impairment (T2DM-CI) by directly targeting the Insulin Receptor (IR) and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to reduce Tau hyperphosphorylation and oxidative stress is provided, and a new strategy for metabolic-targeted neuroprotection in diabetes is opened.