The immune system is essential for the defense against infections and is critically implicated in various disorders, including im munodeficiency, autoimmunity, inflammation and cancer. The current study includes a new design of palmitoylated derivatives of thioglycolic acids (PTGAs) capable of triggering innate immune responses. The new series were accessible through a three- step synthetic route, including N- palmitoylation, Claisen–Schmidt condensation and thia- Michael addition. Their structures were elucidated using different 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques and their purity was confirmed by elemental analysis. The most active PTGAs induced a 12–26- fold increase in the expression of TNF- α and IL- 1β mRNA and triggered a marked re lease of NO in isolated macrophages. These levels were comparable to the responses elicited by heat- killed E. coli and S. aureus. The position of the palmitamide chain and aryl substitution had a significant effect on the TNF- α and IL- 1β mRNA expression and NO release. Simulations of molecular dockings showed that the new PTGA derivatives occupy the same TLR2/TLR6 het erodimer active binding site of the microbial diacylated lipoproteins. The new immunomodulators may have a profound impact on various clinical disorders associated with dysfunctional innate immunity.

L-Tyrosine (L-Tyr), an amino acid, has emerged as a potential biomarker for the detection and monitoring of liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By analysing the serum levels of L-Tyr, healthcare pro­ fessionals can gain insights into the progression and development of these liver diseases. The utilization of L-Tyr as a biomarker holds potential for early detection and timely intervention, improving patient outcomes and treatment options. In this study we developed a novel nanocomposite based on eggshell waste and copper nanoparticles to modify carbon paste electrode (CPE) using chitosan gel as a binder for sensitive estimation of LTyr in human serum samples. The use of chitosan gel avoids the insulating effect of paraffin oil that was usually used for fabrication of CPE and enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the modified electrode. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used to optimize the electrochemical parameters of the oxidation of L-Tyr onto the surface of the fabricated electrode (CuNPs@ESh/CS/CPE). The prepared composite was characterized using Xray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform - Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–VIS spectroscopy and scan elec­ tron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedence spectroscopy (EIS). The fabricated biosensor could es­ timate L-Tyr levels in controls, LC and HCC patients’ serum with high accuracy and sensitivity. The obtained results demonstrated the presence of significant difference in L-Tyr levels in the three studied groups. This in­ dicates that L-Tyr amino acid may serve as a crucial biomarker for the evaluation of such liver diseases.