Publications by authors named "Stefania Canana"
The application of biocatalysis has become essential in both academic and industrial domains for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines, and it serves as an alternative tool to transition-metal catalysis and complements traditional chemical methods. It relies on the swift expansion of available processes, primarily as a result of advanced tools for enzyme discovery, combined with high-throughput laboratory evolution techniques for optimizing biocatalysts. This concept paper explores the utilization of non-conventional media such as ether-type solvents, deep eutectic solvents, and micellar catalysis to enhance biocatalytic reactions for chiral amine synthesis.
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- The study reports the first successful enantioselective reduction of 2-substituted cyclic imines to amines using imine reductases (IREDs) in non-conventional solvents.
- The optimal reaction conditions were found in a glycerol/phosphate buffer mix, achieving over 99% conversions and moderate to good yields while maintaining high enantioselectivity.
- A fed-batch protocol was developed, demonstrating that significant amounts of enantiopure amines can be produced efficiently, indicating potential for economically and environmentally sustainable large-scale applications in pharmaceuticals.
Article Synopsis
- Crystalline silica (CS) is a hazardous material linked to severe health issues like silicosis and lung cancer, with its toxicity varying based on crystal structure and surface chemistry.
- Recent research identifies nearly free silanols (NFS) on the surfaces of crystalline silica polymorphs as critical factors in how silica interacts with cell membranes, influencing toxicity.
- A study assessing various silica polymorphs found that all except stishovite displayed membranolytic activity, with the presence of NFS correlating to this harmful effect, suggesting a significant relationship between surface structure and toxicity.
Molecular recognition between membrane epitopes and nearly free surface silanols explains silica membranolytic activity.
Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces
September 2022
Inhaled crystalline silica causes inflammatory lung diseases, but the mechanism for its unique activity compared to other oxides remains unclear, preventing the development of potential therapeutics. Here, the molecular recognition mechanism between membrane epitopes and "nearly free silanols" (NFS), a specific subgroup of surface silanols, is identified and proposed as a novel broad explanation for particle toxicity in general. Silica samples having different bulk and surface properties, specifically different amounts of NFS, are tested with a set of membrane systems of decreasing molecular complexity and different charge.
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