Immobilization to Positively Charged Cellulose Nanocrystals Enhances the Antibacterial Activity and Stability of Hen Egg White and T4 Lysozyme.

Antibacterial bionanostructures were produced from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with immobilized lysozyme from hen egg white (HEW) and T4 bacteriophage, respectively. The nanocrystals were prepared from microcrystalline cellulose by ammonium persulfate oxidation with a yield of 68% and having an average size of 250 nm and low polydispersity index. HEW lysozyme (HEWL) and T4 lysozyme (T4L) were immobilized to CNC by different mechanisms including adsorption and covalent coupling to carbodiimide-activated carboxylate groups and to glutaraldehyde-activated aminated CNC (Am-CNC), respectively.

Redox Balance in Lactobacillus reuteri DSM20016: Roles of Iron-Dependent Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Glucose/ Glycerol Metabolism.

Lactobacillus reuteri, a heterofermentative bacterium, metabolizes glycerol via a Pdu (propanediol-utilization) pathway involving dehydration to 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) followed by reduction to 1,3-propandiol (1,3-PDO) with concomitant generation of an oxidized cofactor, NAD+ that is utilized to maintain cofactor balance required for glucose metabolism and even for oxidation of 3-HPA by a Pdu oxidative branch to 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP). The Pdu pathway is operative inside Pdu microcompartment that encapsulates different enzymes and cofactors involved in metabolizing glycerol or 1,2-propanediol, and protects the cells from the toxic effect of the aldehyde intermediate. Since L.

Continuous Optical 3D Printing of Green Aliphatic Polyurethanes.

Photosensitive diurethanes were prepared from a green chemistry synthesis pathway based on methacrylate-functionalized six-membered cyclic carbonate and biogenic amines. A continuous optical 3D printing method for the diurethanes was developed to create user-defined gradient stiffness and smooth complex surface microstructures in seconds. The green chemistry-derived polyurethane (gPU) showed high optical transparency, and we demonstrate the ability to tune the material stiffness of the printed structure along a gradient by controlling the exposure time and selecting various amine compounds.

Six-membered cyclic carbonates from trimethylolpropane: Lipase-mediated synthesis in a flow reactor and in silico evaluation of the reaction.

Six-membered cyclic carbonates with hydroxyl and methoxycarbonyloxy functional groups were prepared by transesterification of trimethylolpropane (TMP) with dimethylcarbonate (DMC) by solvent-free lipase-mediated flow reaction followed by thermal cyclization. The flow reaction efficiency was evaluated using different configurations of reactor consisting of packed beds of Novozym®435 (immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B-CalB-a.k.

Crosslinked, cryostructured Lactobacillus reuteri monoliths for production of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde, 3-hydroxypropionic acid and 1,3-propanediol from glycerol.

Crosslinked, cryostructured monoliths prepared from Lactobacillus reuteri cells were evaluated as potential immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst for conversion of glycerol, to potentially important chemicals for the biobased industry, i.e. 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3HPA), 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) and 1,3-propanediol (1,3PDO).

Correction: The persistence length of adsorbed dendronized polymers.

Correction for 'The persistence length of adsorbed dendronized polymers' by Lucie Grebikova, et al., Nanoscale, 2016, 8, 13498-13506.

Tailoring the internal structure of liquid crystalline nanoparticles responsive to fungal lipases: A potential platform for sustained drug release.

Lipases are key components in the mechanisms underlying the persistence and virulence of infections by fungi, and thus also promising triggers for bioresponsive lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles. We here propose a platform in which only a minor component of the formulation is susceptible to cleavage by lipase and where hydrolysis triggers a controlled phase transition within the nanoparticles that can potentially allow for an extended drug release. The responsive formulations were composed of phytantriol, which was included as a non-cleavable major component and polysorbate 80, which serves both as nanoparticle stabilizer and potential lipase target.

Dissolution state of cellulose in aqueous systems. 2. Acidic solvents.

Cellulose is insoluble in water but can be dissolved in strong acidic or alkaline conditions. How well dissolved cellulose is in solution and how it organizes are key questions often neglected in literature. The typical low pH required for dissolving cellulose in acidic solvents limits the use of typical characterization techniques.

The effects of polar excipients transcutol and dexpanthenol on molecular mobility, permeability, and electrical impedance of the skin barrier.

In the development of transdermal and topical products it is important to understand how formulation ingredients interact with the molecular components of the upper layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC), and thereby influence its macroscopic barrier properties. The aim here was to investigate the effect of two commonly used excipients, transcutol and dexpanthenol, on the molecular as well as the macroscopic properties of the skin membrane. Polarization transfer solid-state NMR methods were combined with steady-state flux and impedance spectroscopy measurements to investigate how these common excipients influence the molecular components of SC and its barrier function at strictly controlled hydration conditions in vitro with excised porcine skin.

Effect of Oligomerization of Counterions on Water Activity in Aqueous Cationic Surfactant Systems.

A sorption calorimetry study of cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium surfactants with four different counterions was performed. The counterions were acetate, succinate, citrate, and butyl tetracarboxylate with formal charges ranging from 1 to 4, respectively. The counterions with 2-4 charges can be considered as oligomers.

Anaerobes in Industrial- and Environmental Biotechnology.

Anaerobic microorganisms present in diverse ecological niches employ alternative strategies for energy conservation in the absence of oxygen which enables them to play a key role in maintaining the global cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, and the breakdown of persistent compounds. Thereby they become useful tools in industrial and environmental biotechnology. Although anaerobes have been relatively neglected in comparison to their aerobic counterparts, with increasing knowledge about their diversity and metabolic potential and the development of genetic tools and process technologies to utilize them, we now see a rapid expansion of their applications in the society.

Water oxidation catalyzed by molecular di- and nonanuclear Fe complexes: importance of a proper ligand framework.

The synthesis of two molecular iron complexes, a dinuclear iron(iii,iii) complex and a nonanuclear iron complex, based on the dinucleating ligand 2,2'-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,3-phenylene)bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4-carboxylic acid) is described. The two iron complexes were found to drive the oxidation of water by the one-electron oxidant [Ru(bpy)3](3+).

T4 lysozyme fused with cellulose-binding module for antimicrobial cellulosic wound dressing materials.

Aims: Bacterial infection is a major challenge in wound care. Antimicrobial wound dressings are of great value for treating wound infections. Endolysins are evolving as a new class of antimicrobials with multiple applications.

Isolation and Cultivation of Anaerobes.

Anaerobic microorganisms play important roles in different biotechnological processes. Their complex metabolism and special cultivation requirements have led to less isolated representatives in comparison to their aerobic counterparts. In view of that, the isolation and cultivation of anaerobic microorganisms is still a promising venture, and conventional methodologies as well as considerations and modifications are presented here.

Disubstituted naphthyl β-D-xylopyranosides: Synthesis, GAG priming, and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibition.

Xylosides are a group of compounds that can induce glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain synthesis independently of a proteoglycan core protein. We have previously shown that the xyloside 2-(6-hydroxynaphthyl)β-D-xylopyranoside has a tumor-selective growth inhibitory effect both in vitro and in vivo, and that the effect in vitro was correlated to a reduction in histone H3 acetylation. In addition, GAG chains have previously been reported to inhibit histone acetyltransferases (HAT).

Apparent exchange rate for breast cancer characterization.

Although diffusion MRI has shown promise for the characterization of breast cancer, it has low specificity to malignant subtypes. Higher specificity might be achieved if the effects of cell morphology and molecular exchange across cell membranes could be disentangled. The quantification of exchange might thus allow the differentiation of different types of breast cancer cells.

Gold(I) complex of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene-quinoline conjugate: a virostatic agent against HIV-1.

HIV infection is known for replicating in proliferating CD(+) T-cells. Treatment of these cells with cytostatic (anti-proliferation) compounds such as hydroxyurea interferes with the cells's ability support HIV replication. Combinations of such cytostatic compounds with proven anti-retroviral drugs (like ddI) are known as virostatic, and have been shown to aid in the control of the infection.

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-rhodium and iridium complexes containing (N^N and N^O) bound chloroquine analogue ligands: synthesis, characterization and antimalarial properties.

The synthesis and characterization of twenty new pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-rhodium and iridium complexes containing N^N and N^O-chelating chloroquine analogue ligands are described. The in vitro antimalarial activity of the new ligands as well as the complexes was evaluated against the chloroquine sensitive (CQS) NF54 and the chloroquine resistant (CQR) Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The antimalarial activity was found to be good to moderate; although all complexes are less active than artesunate, some of the ligands and complexes showed better activity than chloroquine (CQ).

Theoretical Study of Phosphodiester Hydrolysis and Transesterification Catalyzed by an Unsymmetric Biomimetic Dizinc Complex.

Density functional theory calculations have been used to investigate the reaction mechanisms of phosphodiester hydrolysis and transesterification catalyzed by a dinuclear zinc complex of the 2-(N-isopropyl-N-((2-pyridyl)methyl)aminomethyl)-6-(N-(carboxylmethyl)-N-((2-pyridyl)methyl)amino-methyl)-4-methylphenol (IPCPMP) ligand, mimicking the active site of zinc phosphotriesterase. The substrates bis(2,4)-dinitrophenyl phosphate (BDNPP) and 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNP) were employed as analogues of DNA and RNA, respectively. A number of different mechanistic proposals were considered, with the active catalyst harboring either one or two hydroxide ions.

Selective oxidation of trimethylolpropane to 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid using growing cells of Corynebacterium sp. ATCC 21245.

Multifunctional chemicals including hydroxycarboxylic acids are gaining increasing interest due to their growing applications in the polymer industry. One approach for their production is a biological selective oxidation of polyols, which is difficult to achieve by conventional chemical catalysis. In the present study, trimethylolpropane (TMP), a trihydric alcohol, was subjected to selective oxidation using growing cells of Corynebacterium sp.

Bio-based 3-hydroxypropionic- and acrylic acid production from biodiesel glycerol via integrated microbial and chemical catalysis.

Background: 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) and acrylic acid (AA) are industrially important platform- and secondary chemical, respectively. Their production from renewable resources by environment-friendly processes is desirable. In the present study, both chemicals were almost quantitatively produced from biodiesel-derived glycerol by an integrated process involving microbial and chemical catalysis.

Enzymatic monitoring of lignin and lignin derivatives biooxidation.

Lignin oxidation was enzymatically monitored by measuring methanol released during the reaction. The methanol was oxidized to formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide, and the latter used to oxidize ABTS to a product measured spectrophotometrically. The efficiency was comparable to the commonly used gas chromatography method.

Multi-steps green process for synthesis of six-membered functional cyclic carbonate from trimethylolpropane by lipase catalyzed methacrylation and carbonation, and thermal cyclization.

A highly functionalized six-membered cyclic carbonate, methacrylated trimethylolpropane (TMP) cyclic carbonate, which can be used as a potential monomer for bisphenol-free polycarbonates and isocyanate-free polyurethanes, was synthesized by two steps transesterifications catalyzed by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B, Novozym(®) 435 (N435) followed by thermal cyclization. TMP was functionalized as 70 to 80% selectivity of mono-methacrylate with 70% conversion was achieved, and the reaction rate was evaluated using various acyl donors such as methacrylic acid, methacrylate-methyl ester, -ethyl ester, and -vinyl ester. As a new observation, the fastest rate obtained was for the transesterfication reaction using methacrylate methyl ester.

The GH5 1,4-β-mannanase from Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 possesses a low-affinity mannan-binding module and highlights the diversity of mannanolytic enzymes.

Background: β-Mannans are abundant and diverse plant structural and storage polysaccharides. Certain human gut microbiota members including health-promoting Bifidobacterium spp. catabolize dietary mannans.