Combination of 3D printing and electrospinning to develop chitin/gelatin/PVA scaffolds.

In this study, novel scaffolds based on natural polymers were developed by combining 3D printing (3DP) and electrospinning (ES) techniques. ES ink was prepared with gelatin and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), while 3DP ink was prepared with gelatin and chitin. Different biopolymers were used to confer unique properties to each ink and obtain a multilayered scaffold suitable for tissue regeneration.

Discovery of a novel family of FKBP12 "reshapers" and their use as calcium modulators in skeletal muscle under nitro-oxidative stress.

The hypothesis of rescuing FKBP12/RyR1 interaction and intracellular calcium homeostasis through molecular "reshaping" of FKBP12 was investigated. To this end, novel 4-arylthioalkyl-1-carboxyalkyl-1,2,3-triazoles were designed and synthesized, and their efficacy was tested in human myotubes. A library of 17 compounds (10a-n) designed to dock the FKBP12/RyR1 hot-spot interface contact residues, was readily prepared from free α-amino acids and arylthioalkynes using CuAAC "click" protocols amenable to one-pot transformations in high overall yields and total configurational integrity.

Physicochemical and Biological Performance of Aloe Vera-Incorporated Native Collagen Films.

Collagen was obtained from porcine skin by mechanical pretreatments with the aim of preserving the triple helix structure of native collagen, which was indirectly corroborated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results. Moreover, aloe vera (AV), with inherent biological properties, was incorporated into collagen film formulations, and films were prepared by compression and characterized to assess their suitability for biomedical applications. SEM images showed that the fibrillar structure of collagen changed to a rougher structure with the addition of AV, in accordance with the decrease in the lateral packaging of collagen chains observed by XRD analysis.

A Green Approach towards Native Collagen Scaffolds: Environmental and Physicochemical Assessment.

Native collagen scaffolds were prepared in this work, in which both materials and environmental approaches were considered with the aim of providing a global strategy towards more sustainable biomaterials. From the environmental perspective, it is worth mentioning that acid and enzymatic treatments have been avoided to extract collagen, allowing the reduction in the use of resources, in terms of chemicals, energy, and time, and leading to a low environmental load of this step in all the impact categories under analysis. With the incorporation of chitosan into the scaffold-forming formulations, physical interactions occurred between collagen and chitosan, but the native collagen structure was preserved, as observed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses.

Outcomes of the PIRASOA programme, an antimicrobial stewardship programme implemented in hospitals of the Public Health System of Andalusia, Spain: an ecologic study of time-trend analysis.

Objectives: Inappropriate antimicrobial use favours the spread of resistance, and multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDR) are currently of major concern. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are essential for improving antibiotic use in hospitals. However, their impact on entire healthcare systems has not been thoroughly assessed.

Site-Selective N-Dealkylation of 1,2,3-Triazolium Salts: A Metal-Free Route to 1,5-Substituted 1,2,3-Triazoles and Related Bistriazoles.

N3-Alkylation of 1-(pivaloyloxymethyl)-1,2,3-triazoles with alkyl triflates carrying latent "click" functionality, followed by a nucleophile-promoted N1-dealkylation of the resulting strongly electrophilic intermediate triazolium salts, provides an efficient route to 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. The azide and alkyne groups incorporated by N-alkylation can be submitted to further copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne and Huisgen cycloadditions to provide bis(1,2,3-triazoles) with unprecedented 1,5/1,4 substitution patterns.

Triazole-Directed Pd-Catalyzed C(sp(2))-H Oxygenation of Arenes and Alkenes.

Selective Pd-catalyzed C(sp(2))-H oxygenation of 4-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles is described. Unlike previous metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization events, which preferentially occur at the activated heterocyclic C-H bond, the regioselective oxygenation of the arene/alkene moiety is now achieved featuring the unconventional role of a simple triazole scaffold as a modular and selective directing group.

Preparation of cationic nanogels for nucleic acid delivery.

Cationic nanogels with site-selected functionality were designed for the delivery of nucleic acid payloads targeting numerous therapeutic applications. Functional cationic nanogels containing quaternized 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and a cross-linker with reducible disulfide moieties (qNG) were prepared by activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in an inverse miniemulsion. Polyplex formation between the qNG and nucleic acid exemplified by plasmid DNA (pDNA) and short interfering RNA (siRNA duplexes) were evaluated.

A real-time PCR assay for detection and quantification of 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan producing lactic acid bacteria in cider.

Ropiness in natural cider is a relatively frequent alteration, mainly found after bottling, leading to consumer rejection. It is derived from the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) by some lactic acid bacteria most of which synthesize a 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan and belong to the genera Pediococcus, Lactobacillus and Oenococcus. This polysaccharide synthesis is controlled by a single transmembrane glycosyltransferase (GTF).

Screening and selection of 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan producing lactic acid bacteria and exopolysaccharide characterization.

The ability to produce a 2-branched (1,3)-beta-D-glucan was screened in 147 lactic acid bacteria strains recovered from cider. Among them, 32 identified as Pediococcus parvulus exhibited a ropy character and were PCR positive for the presence of the gtf gene, related to the synthesis of the beta-glucan. Half of the strains produced more than 100 mg L(-1) of exopolysaccharide (EPS).

Supramolecular structure and conformation of a (1-->3)(1-->2)-beta-D-glucan from Lactobacillus suebicus CUPV221 as observed by tapping mode atomic force microscopy.

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) has been used to analyze the supramolecular structure and conformation of the (1-->3)(1-->2)-beta-D-glucan produced by Lactobacillus suebicus CUPV221 isolated from cider. Solutions for TM-AFM observation were prepared by dispersing the solid glucan in distilled water and in alkaline aqueous solutions. It was found that from the distilled water at 10 mg/L or higher concentrations, the (1-->3)(1-->2)-beta-D-glucan forms networks.

Probiotic properties of the 2-substituted (1,3)-beta-D-glucan-producing bacterium Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

Exopolysaccharides have prebiotic potential and contribute to the rheology and texture of fermented foods. Here we have analyzed the in vitro bioavailability and immunomodulatory properties of the 2-substituted (1,3)-beta-D-glucan-producing bacterium Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

Chemical and rheological properties of the beta-glucan produced by Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

Some physicochemical and rheological properties of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 were examined. Structural characterization by NMR ((1)H and 2D-COSY) showed that the same EPS, a 2-substituted (1,3)-beta-D-glucan, was synthesized irrespective of sugar source used for growth (glucose, fructose, or maltose).

Glycerol metabolism and bitterness producing lactic acid bacteria in cidermaking.

Several lactic acid bacteria were isolated from bitter tasting ciders in which glycerol was partially removed. The degradation of glycerol via glycerol dehydratase pathway was found in 22 out of 67 isolates. The confirmation of glycerol degradation by this pathway was twofold: showing their glycerol dehydratase activity and detecting the presence of the corresponding gene by a PCR method.

Biogenic amine production by lactic acid bacteria isolated from cider.

Aims: To study the occurrence of histidine, tyrosine and ornithine decarboxylase activity in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from natural ciders and to examine their potential to produce detrimental levels of biogenic amines.

Methods And Results: The presence of biogenic amines in a decarboxylase synthetic broth and in cider was determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Among the 54 LAB strains tested, six (five lactobacilli and one oenococci) were biogenic amine producers in both media.

Development of alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in highly acidic and phenolic apple musts.

This work reports the influence of the high acidity and high phenolic content in apple musts on the development of alcoholic and malolactic fermentations and on the final chemical and microbiological composition of the ciders. Four different musts were obtained by pressing several varieties and proportions of cider apples from the Basque Country (Northern Spain). Specially acidic and phenolic varieties were selected.

Growth and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Oenococcus oeni I4 and structural characterization of their EPSs.

Aims: To study the influence of medium constituents on growth, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by a strain of Oenococcus oeni. The structure of one of the EPSs has also been characterized.

Methods And Results: EPS concentration was estimated by the phenol/sulfuric acid method.

Influence of the carbohydrate source on beta-glucan production and enzyme activities involved in sugar metabolism in Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

The influence of carbohydrate source on growth, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and on the activity of the enzymes implicated in energy generation and UDP-glucose synthesis in Pediococcus parvulus 2.6 was evaluated. The highest EPS production was obtained on glucose, while fructose was a poor substrate for EPS synthesis.

Biogenic amines in natural ciders.

Biogenic amines play an important physiological role in mammals, and high amounts of some exogenous amines in human diet may contribute to a wide variety of toxic effects. These amines are commonly found in many foodstuffs, particularly in fermented products such as cheese, meat products, beer, wine, and ciders. Here, the level of biogenic amines in some natural ciders was examined.

Environmental factors influencing growth of and exopolysaccharide formation by Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

Natural exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from food-grade lactic acid bacteria have potential for development and exploitation as food additives and functional food ingredients with both health and economic benefits. In this study, we have examined the physiological capacity of EPS production in Pediococcus parvulus 2.6.

Pediococcus parvulus gtf gene encoding the GTF glycosyltransferase and its application for specific PCR detection of beta-D-glucan-producing bacteria in foods and beverages.

Exopolysaccharide production by lactic acid bacteria is beneficial in the dairy and oat-based food industries and is used to improve the texture of the fermented products. However, beta-D-glucan-producing bacteria are considered spoilage microorganisms in alcoholic beverages because their secreted exopolysaccharides alter the viscosity of cider, wine, and beer, rendering them unpalatable. The plasmidic glycosyltransferase (gtf) gene of the Pediococcus parvulus 2.

Exopolysaccharide production by Pediococcus damnosus 2.6 in a semidefined medium under different growth conditions.

Ropy Pediococcus damnosus (strain 2.6) was used for production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in a semidefined medium. From a kinetic point of view, an experiment conducted in SMD medium containing 30 g l(-1) glucose and 5 g l(-1) Bacto casamino acids (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI), without pH control, showed that EPS production took place mainly during the growth phase.

The effect of temperature on the growth of strains of Kloeckera apiculata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in apple juice fermentation.

The influence of temperature (10 degrees C and 25 degrees C) on the survival and growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kloeckera apiculata was examined in mixed and pure cultures during fermentation in apple juice. The growth reached by S. cerevisiae did not seem to be affected by temperature and the presence of K.