No abstract

A joint experimental and computational systematic exploration of the driving forces that govern (i) encapsulation of active ingredients (solvent, starting material dehydration, drug/material ratio, immersion time, and several consecutive impregnations) and (i) its kinetics of delivery (structure, polarity, ...) was performed using a series of porous biocompatible metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that bear different topologies, connectivities, and chemical compositions. The liporeductor cosmetic caffeine was selected as the active molecule. Its encapsulation is a challenge for the cosmetic industry due to its high tendency to crystallize leading to poor loadings (<5 wt %) and uncontrolled releases with a subsequent low efficiency. It was evidenced that caffeine entrapping reaches exceptional payloads up to 50 wt %, while progressive release of this cosmetic agent upon immersion in the simulated physiological media (phosphate buffer solution pH = 7.4 or distilled water pH = 6.3, 37 °C) occurred mainly depending on the degree of MOF stability, caffeine mobility, and MOF–caffeine interactions. Thus, MIL-100 and UiO-66 appear as very promising carriers for topical administration of caffeine with both spectacular cosmetic payloads and progressive releases within 24 h.

Proteins persist longer in the fossil record than DNA, but the longevity, survival mechanisms and substrates remain contested. Here, we demonstrate the role of mineral binding in preserving the protein sequence in ostrich (Struthionidae) eggshell, including from the palaeontological sites of Laetoli (3.8 Ma) and Olduvai Gorge (1.3 Ma) in Tanzania. By tracking protein diagenesis back in time we find consistent patterns of preservation, demonstrating authenticity of the surviving sequences. Molecular dynamics simulations of struthiocalcin-1 and -2, the dominant proteins within the eggshell, reveal that distinct domains bind to the mineral surface. It is the domain with the strongest calculated binding energy to the calcite surface that is selectively preserved. Thermal age calculations demonstrate that the Laetoli and Olduvai peptides are 50 times older than any previously authenticated sequence (equivalent to ~16 Ma at a constant 10°C).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.17092.001