Effective delivery and selective insecticidal activity of double-stranded RNA via complexation with diblock copolymer varies with polymer block composition.

Background: Chemical insecticides are an important tool to control damaging pest infestations. However, lack of species specificity, the rise of resistance and the demand for biological alternatives with improved ecotoxicity profiles means that chemicals with new modes of action are required. RNA interference (RNAi)-based strategies using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a species-specific bio-insecticide offer an exquisite solution that addresses these issues.

Protection of Double-Stranded RNA Complexation with Double Hydrophilic Block Copolymers: Influence of Neutral Block Length in Biologically Relevant Environments.

Interaction between the anionic phosphodiester backbone of DNA/RNA and polycations can be exploited as a means of delivering genetic material for therapeutic and agrochemical applications. In this work, quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)--poly(,-dimethylacrylamide) (PQDMAEMA--PDMA) double hydrophilic block copolymers (DHBCs) were synthesized reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization as nonviral delivery vehicles for double-stranded RNA. The assembly of DHBCs and dsRNA forms distinct polyplexes that were thoroughly characterized to establish a relationship between the length of the uncharged poly(-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA) block and the polyplex size, complexation efficiency, and colloidal stability.

The application of a generic feedstock from wheat for microbial fermentations.

The feasibility of a generic fermentation feedstock produced from wheat flour has been confirmed in several fermentations of yeasts, bacterium, and filamentous fungus for the production of commodity chemicals. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was incubated for the observation of yeast growth and ethanol production, Pichia farinosa for glycerol production, Monascus purpureus for fungal growth and pigment production, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus for bacteria growth and lactic acid production. The results confirmed that the feedstock contained no inhibitory components to the strains tested.