Xyloglucan-cellulose nanocrystal multilayered films: effect of film architecture on enzymatic hydrolysis.

Understanding the hydrolysis process of lignocellulosic substrates remains a challenge in the biotechnology field. We aimed here at investigating the effect of substrate architecture on the enzymatic degradation process using two different multilayered model films composed of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and xyloglucan (XG) chains. They were built by a spin-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) approach and consisted either of (i) an alternation of CNC and XG layers or of (ii) layers of mixed (CNC/XG) complexes alternated with polycation layers.

Patterning surface by site selective capture of biopolymer hydrogel beads.

This communication describes the fabrication of microstructured biopolymer surfaces by the site-selective capture of pectin hydrogel beads. A positively charged surface consisting of poly-L-lysine (PLL) was subjected to site-selective enzymatic degradation using patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps covalently modified with trypsin, according to the recently described method. The patterned surface was used to capture ionically cross-linked pectin beads.

Coloured semi-reflective thin films for biomass-hydrolyzing enzyme detection.

A new enzymatic activity detection assay based on colour change of the semi-reflective films is presented. The method is based on the preparation of multilayered thin films of controlled thickness obtained by sequential deposition of cellulose nanocrystals and xyloglucan. The hydrolysis of the films leads to a decrease in layer thickness that enables to detect enzyme activity, to the naked eye, from the resulting colour changes in a span of few minutes.