Calcium peroxide as a seed coating material for padi rice

Summary Measurement of oxygen uptake by germinating rice seed (Oryza sativa L) suggests that oxygen requirement is independent of temperature of incubation. However, the rate of oxygen consumption is dependent upon incubation temperature and, after an initial lag phase, is exponential with time. Although rice seed can germinate and grow at low oxygen concentrations, germination is poor and seedlings exhibit low vigour. An oxidized zone may be observed around the seed when sown in an anoxic environment but coated with a layer of calcium peroxide. The seed germinates readily and develops normally when a sufficient level of calcium peroxide is used.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel chitosan-gelatin bioconjugate with fluorescence emission

Polysaccharide-protein conjugations have generated increasing interests for biomedical applications in recent years. A naturally occurring cross-linking reagent, genipin, which has been used in herbal medicine, was employed to cross-link chitosan and gelatin for the preparation of a novel chitosan-gelatin conjugate. The primary amine groups on chitosan and gelatin were covalently linked with genipin, leading to the formation of a chitosan-gelatin conjugate with nitrogen-containing heterocycle units, the pyrindine-like derivatives. The FT-IR and UV-vis studies revealed that chitosan could react with genipin via a nucleophilic ring-opening reaction to construct more sufficient and extensive cross-link networks, as compared with its gelatin counterpart. The UV-vis absorption properties of the chitosan-gelatin conjugates were strongly related to the chitosan-to-gelatin weight ratio in the compositions. It is worth noting that the conjugation process endows the special emission properties of the chitosan-gelatin conjugates, which depends on the cross-linking reaction and the formation of hydrogen bonding involved chitosan-gelatin complex. Fluorescence quenching or enhancement was observed from the chitosan-gelatin conjugates upon coordinated with a wide variety of heavy metal ions (Ag+, Cu2+, Fe2+, and Co2+). This study also examined the possibility of covalent coupling the capture chelator (chitosan) with bioactive protein (e.g., albumin, alpha-globulin, and fibrinogen) to create fluorescence emission. These findings may provide a novel way to deliver therapeutic radionuclides for immuno-targeting purposes in the future.     

Thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based block copolymer coating for optimizing cell sheet fabrication

Thermoresponsive surfaces are prepared via a spin-coating method with a block copolymer consisting of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) and poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) on polystyrene surfaces. The PBMA block suppresses the removal of deposited PIPAAm-based polymers from the surface. The polymer coating affects the temperature-dependent cellular behavior of the surfaces with respect to protein adsorption. By adjusting layer thicknesses, PBMA-b-PIPAAm-coated surfaces are optimized to regulate the adhesion/detachment of cells by temperature changes. Thus, thermoresponsive polymer-coated surfaces are able to harvest contiguous cell sheets with their basal extracellular matrix proteins.     

Aptamer-based capture molecules as a novel coating strategy to promote cell adhesion

The improvement of the cytocompatibility of medical implants is a major goal in biomaterials research. During the last years many researchers worked on the fascinating approach to seed the respective cell types on various artificial substrates before implantation. For instance, cell-seeded implants are supposed to be better candidates for transplantable bone substitutes than conventional artificial bone grafts. To improve cell seeding efficiency and cytocompatibility, we designed a new coating material for medical implants. We used aptamers, highly specific cell binding nucleic acids generated by combinatorial chemistry with an in vitro selection called systematic evolution of exponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers do have high binding affinity and selectivity to their target. In our study, human osteoblasts from osteosarcoma tissue were used as a target to create the aptamer. Single aptamer mediated cell sorting assays showed the binding affinity with osteoblasts. Additionally, the aptamers immobilized on tissue culture plates could capture osteoblasts directly and rapidly from the cell solution. This model proves that aptamer coated artificial surfaces can greatly enhance cell adhesion. We assume that this strategy is capable to improve the clinical application of tissue engineered implants.     

Polymerization of cardanol using soybean peroxidase and its potential application as anti-biofilm coating material

Soybean peroxidase (20 mg) catalyzed the oxidative polymerization of cardanol in 2-propanol/phospate buffer solution (25 ml, 1:1 v/v) and yielded 62% polycardanol over 6 h. Cobalt naphthenate (0.5% w/w) catalyzed the crosslinking of polycardanol and the final hardness of crosslinked polycardanol film exceeded 9 H scale as pencil scratch hardness, which shows a high potential as a commercial coating material. In addition, it showed an excellent anti-biofouling activity to Pseudomonas fluorescens compared to other polymeric materials such as polypropylene.     

Synthesis of a nucleoside bioconjugate system as a potential anti-HIV agent.

Synthesis and anti-HIV data for a bioconjugate molecule incorporating a HIV protease inhibitor (A74704) and a HIV RT inhibitor (d4T) are presented.     

Counter-ion dependence in salt-free,aqueous solutions of heparin

Chiroptical properties of heparin for various degrees of neutralization of the sulfate and carboxylic groups and for different counter-ions in salt-free aqueous solutions were investigated. Variations of optical rotation and ellipticity values at given wavelengths are compared to simultaneous pH and viscosity changes observed during the neutralization of heparin by sodium and calcium hydroxide. For Na⁺, variations of ellipticity at 210 nm are related to acid—base properties of uronic carboxylic groups. C.d. characteristics found for alkaline-earth counter-ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺), as compared to Na⁺, are assigned to effects of divalent ions on the ionization behavior of carboxylic groups. Among the divalent counter-ions considered, Ca²⁺ gave the strongest interaction with the heparin polyanion, but no specific complex formation was observed. O.r.d. and c.d. data are discussed on the basis of a randomly coiled structure for macromolecules composed of rigid, heterocyclic repeating-units that are independent of each other in so far as electronic transitions of chromophore groups contributing to optical activity are concerned.     

防白蚁电缆涂料抗台湾乳白蚁蛀蚀试验

用"群体法"对1%联苯菊酯乳油防白蚁电缆涂料抗台湾乳白蚁Coptotermes formosanus Shirak蛀蚀进行测试,结果表明:只涂防蚁涂料的电缆和木块抗白蚁性能的蛀蚀等级为1级,并且其白蚁存活时间最短,分别为10.33±1.53d和8.67±1.15d,两者之间差异不显著;先涂一层防白蚁涂料,再涂一层普通涂料的电缆和木块全达到蛀蚀等级1级,白蚁存活时间分别为24.33±2.52d和21.33±2.08d,两者之间差异不显著;只涂普通涂料的电缆和木块抗白蚁蛀蚀等级分别为1级和2～3级,白蚁存活时间分别为64.00±2.65d和62.67±2.08d,两者之间的差异也不显著;未涂涂料的电缆和木块抗白蚁蛀蚀等级分别为1级和4级,该处理的电缆缸内白蚁存活时间为72.33±3.06d,而该木块第90d试验结束时白蚁仍然活动正常,两者之间的差异显著。本研究结果显示:该防白蚁电缆涂料有良好的抗台湾乳白蚁蛀蚀性能;在电缆外护套或木块表面涂了一层该防白蚁电缆涂料后加涂一层普通涂料,既能抗台湾乳白蚁蛀蚀,又能减少环境污染。     

QCM-FIA with PGMA coating for dynamic interaction study of heparin and antithrombin III

In this work, we describe a method of constructing a film of linear poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) polymer onto the surface of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrode as a coating material that allows easy coupling of heparin molecules onto the electrode and facilitates the determination of the interaction between heparin and antithrombin III (AT III). The PGMA film was characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and infra-red spectroscopy. The coupling of heparin was accomplished in one step solution reaction. A home-made quartz crystal microbalance-flow injection analysis (QCM-FIA) system with data analysis software developed in our laboratory was used to determine the interaction. The interactions between immobilized heparin and AT III were studied with various concentrations under various conditions. The obtained constants are kass=(1.49+/-0.12)x10(3)mol-1ls-1, kdiss=(3.94+/-0.63)x10(-2)s-1, KA=(3.82+/-0.33)x10(4)mol-1l.     

Agricultural waste material as potential adsorbent for sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions - a review

Heavy metal remediation of aqueous streams is of special concern due to recalcitrant and persistency of heavy metals in environment. Conventional treatment technologies for the removal of these toxic heavy metals are not economical and further generate huge quantity of toxic chemical sludge. Biosorption is emerging as a potential alternative to the existing conventional technologies for the removal and/or recovery of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The major advantages of biosorption over conventional treatment methods include: low cost, high efficiency, minimization of chemical or biological sludge, regeneration of biosorbents and possibility of metal recovery. Cellulosic agricultural waste materials are an abundant source for significant metal biosorption. The functional groups present in agricultural waste biomass viz. acetamido, alcoholic, carbonyl, phenolic, amido, amino, sulphydryl groups etc. have affinity for heavy metal ions to form metal complexes or chelates. The mechanism of biosorption process includes chemisorption, complexation, adsorption on surface, diffusion through pores and ion exchange etc. The purpose of this review article is to provide the scattered available information on various aspects of utilization of the agricultural waste materials for heavy metal removal. Agricultural waste material being highly efficient, low cost and renewable source of biomass can be exploited for heavy metal remediation. Further these biosorbents can be modified for better efficiency and multiple reuses to enhance their applicability at industrial scale.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of a decasaccharide fragment of heparin in aqueous solution

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on heparin-water-sodium systems were carried out in order to establish a simulation protocol able to represent heparin solution conformation under physiological conditions. Atomic charges suitable for heparin oligosaccharides were obtained from ab initio quantum-mechanical computations, at the 6-31G(**) level. The GROMACS forcefield, the SPC, and SPC/E water models were employed. Also heparin was simulated with IdoA residues in 1C(4) or 2S(0) conformational states. The results of the performed MD simulations are in agreement with the available experimental data, suggesting that this approach can be applied for the study of heparin interactions with its target proteins and thus play a role in the development of new antithrombotic agents.     

Study of novel rosin-based biomaterials for pharmaceutical coating

The film forming and coating properties of Glycerol ester of maleic rosin (GMR) and Pentaerythritol ester of maleic rosin (PMR) were investigated. The 2 rosin-based biomaterials were initially characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties, molecular weight (Mw), and glass transition temperature (Tg). Films were produced by solvent evaporation technique on a mercury substrate. Dibutyl sebacate plasticized and nonplasticized films were characterized by mechanical (tensile zzzz strength, percentage elongation, and Young's modulus), water vapor transmission (WVT), and moisture absorption parameters. Plasticization was found to increase film elongation and decrease the Young's modulus, making the films more flexible and thereby reducing the brittleness. Poor rates of WVT and percentage moisture absorption were demonstrated by various film formulations. Diclofenac sodium-layered pellets coated with GMR and PMR film formulations showed sustained drug release for up to 10 hours. The release rate was influenced by the extent of plasticization and coating level. The results obtained in the study demonstrate the utility of novel rosin-based biomaterials for pharmaceutical coating and sustained-release drug delivery systems.     

Recombinant mussel adhesive protein fp-5 (MAP fp-5) as a bulk bioadhesive and surface coating material

Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) attach to all types of inorganic and organic surfaces, even in wet environments. MAP of type 5 (fp-5), in particular, has been considered as a key adhesive material. However, the low availability of fp-5 has hampered its biochemical characterization and practical applications. Here, soluble recombinant fp-5 is mass-produced in Escherichia coli. Tyrosinase-modified recombinant fp-5 showed ～1.11 MPa adhesive shear strength, which is the first report of a bulk-scale adhesive force measurement for purified recombinant of natural MAP type. Surface coatings were also performed through simple dip-coating of various objects. In addition, complex coacervate using recombinant fp-5 and hyaluronic acid was prepared as an efficient adhesive formulation, which greatly improved the bulk adhesive strength. Collectively, it is expected that this work will enhance basic understanding of mussel adhesion and that recombinant fp-5 can be successfully used as a realistic bulk-scale bioadhesive and an efficient surface coating material.     

Sorghum as brewing material

Conclusion The white-skinned, low polyphenol cultivars of sorghum are the most likely to be used as brewing raw materials for adjunct and/or malt production. Efficient use of a food grain such as sorghum in brewing, demands that ample supplies are available and that by-products of adjunct or malt production are processed and marketed efficiently. Present research on the brewing potential of sorghum will undoubtedly benefit the agricultural development of the crop.Many countries are known for the famous drinks and beverages they produce. The cost of sorghum beer production must therefore be measured against drinkability of the product. A sub-standard product will not develop and will reflect badly on its producer. Although complete conversion of sorghum starch to fermentable sugars is avoided in brewing, efficient conversion of starch into glucose will require the addition of suitable commercial heat-stable amyloglucosidase enzymes. Future work on sorghum must be conducted scientifically and technologically with regard to its suitability as adjunct and/or as malt.     

Human antithrombin III-derived heparin-binding peptide, a novel heparin antagonist

In the blood coagulation cascade, human antithrombin III (hAT III) acts as an inhibitor of serine proteases such as thrombin and factor Xa, and this anticoagulatory glycoprotein requires the binding of heparin for its activation. In this study, we synthesized the polypeptides corresponding to the proposed heparin-binding sites including the (41-49), (286-301) and (123-139) regions of hAT III, and examined their interactions with heparin by means of physicochemical and biochemical methods. All the synthetic peptides had a high affinity toward heparin, evidenced by the fact that they were eluted from a heparin-agarose column at the high salt concentration range of 520-700 mM. In addition, hAT III (123-139) attenuated the effect of heparin on the activation of hAT III, whereas other HBPs did not, suggesting that only hAT III (123-139) could interact with the active site of heparin. On the basis of these results, we prepared novel hAT III (123-139)-related derivatives as potent heparin antagonist candidates, and examined the influence of several modifications on their activity in vitro. The results provided new findings about the structure-activity relationship of hAT III (123-139), and led us to the successful development of a potent antagonist for heparin.     

Gel filtration studies of methylene blue–heparin interactions in aqueous solution

The gel filtration method was applied to the study of the interaction of the metachromatic cationic dye methylene blue (MB) with heparin in aqueous solution. This method requires the determination of the total MB concentration in the effluent. It was found that (i) MB in aqueous solution can be extracted quantitatively with benzyl alcohol (BzlOH), (ii) the metachromatic effect of MB is not observed in BzlOH, and (iii) the presence of heparin in aqueous solution does not interfere in the BzlOH extraction of MB. Accurate determination of MB concentration in the effluent can be made by extraction of MB with BzlOH, followed by the usual absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the use of the spectrophotometric method with this procedure entailed no serious problem relating to adsorption of MB on the glass walls. Gel filtration binding experiments were successfully carried out on a Sephadex LH-20 column using 0.005M acetate buffer as effluent. The binding data obtained were analyzed in terms of the cooperativity parameter according to the method of Schwarz. The thermodynamic parameters for the binding process of MB were also evaluated. It is shown that the binding of MB to heparin is highly cooperative, exothermic, and stabilized by entropic factors.     

Steroid bioconversion in a novel aqueous two-phase system

A novel aqueous two-phase system, based on polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and monosodium glutamate, was tested for the 1-dehydrogenation of hydrocortisone-based substrates. This system led to higher substrate solubilities and biocatalyst/steroid separation levels when compared with alternative systems. The addition of short-chain monohydric alcohols resulted in higher solubilities and more favourable partition coefficients for the tested substrates. Bioconversion activities in PEG/glutamate systems with 2,5% (v/v) methanol were comparable to those measured in monophasic buffer-methanol medium.