Effects of immobilization on biomass production and acetic acid fermentation of Acetobacter aceti as a function of temperature and pH

Summary Acetobacter aceti cells were immobilized using entrapment in Ca-alginate gel and adsorption on preformed cellulose beads. The cell number within the supports showed no significant alterations on changing temperature or pH, whereas the acetic acid production was slightly increased by immobilization.     

Removal of nitrate from water by foam-immobilizedPhormidium laminosum in batch and continuous-flow bioreactors

Cells of the non-N₂-fixing cyanobacteriumPhormidium laminosum were immobilized in polyurethane (PU) foams either by absorption or by entrapment in the PU prepolymer followed by polymerisation and by adsorption onto polyvinyl (PV) foams. Although entrapment caused toxicity problems which lead to rapid death of the immobilized cells, they were immobilized successfully by adsorption onto PU or PV foams and maintained their photosynthetic electron transport activities (PS I, II, I + II) for at least 7 weeks. Changes in the morphology resulting from immobilization, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and low temperature-SEM, were investigated. Batch cultures and a continuous-flow packed bed photobioreactor were used to study nitrate removal from water. The effects of light intensity and CO₂ concentration on bioreactor performance were studied with respect to the nitrate uptake efficiency of the system. It was concluded thatP. laminosum immobilized on polymer foams is of potential value for biological nitrate removal in a continuous-flow system. author for correspondence     

Gentisate dioxygenase activity in immobilized cell-free extracts prepared from Salmonella typhimurium

Cell-free extracts of Salmonella typhimurium containing gentisate dioxygenase were immobilized by entrapment in carrageenan and polyacrylamide and adsorption to polyester filters. Carrageenan gels were very porous, and the enzyme was slowly inactivated in polyacrylamide. When adsorbed on polyester the enzyme could be lyophilized and reactivated. Batch reactors charged with the immobilized enzyme converted gentisate to maleylpyruvate with yields of 10–90%.     

Degradation of phenol by immobilized cells ofFusarium flocciferum

Summary The degradation of phenol by cells ofFusarium flocciferum immobilized by entrapment in agar, K — carrageenan, alginate and polyurethane, and by adsorption on preformed polyurethane foams was investigated. Entrapped and adsorbed cells in polyure —thane were able to degrade phenol up to 4g/l and 2.5g/l respectively with no loss of their activity under repetead use for more than two months.     

Immobilization ofPenicillium raistrickii spores and mycelium growth for 15α-hydroxylation of 13-ethylgon-4-en-3,17-dione

Spores ofPenicillium raistrickii immobilized by gel entrapment, microencapsulation and surface adsorption were allowed to grow into mycelial form, in order to accomplish hydroxylation of 13-ethylgon-4-en-3,17-dione at the 15α-position. The hydroxylating activity of both free and immobilized cells at different pH and substrate concentration as well as under starvation conditions was studied. The productivity of cells immobilized by several techniques is compared.     

Immobilization of lipase onto a photo-crosslinked polymer network: Characterization and polymerization applications

Abstract

The recovery of activity of lipases immobilized onto a photo-crosslinked polymer network was 76.0% and 41.0% for entrapment and adsorption methods, respectively. Both entrapped and adsorbed immobilized enzymes were very stable, retaining more than 60% of their activity over the range of temperatures studied. Immobilization by either method protected their relative activities nearly 96% at 70°C. The optimum pH was 8.0 for immobilized enzymes and 6.0 for the free enzyme at 40°C, while the relative activities after storage at 0–4°C for 30 days were 98% and 75% using entrapment and adsorption methods, respectively. These results indicated that lipase immobilized by entrapment and adsorption not only had good activity recovery, but also remarkable stability, better reusability and application adaptability than free lipase. Also, it can be safely stated that, photo-crosslinked polymer network can be used as alternative supports for immobilization of lipase for enzymatic polymerization reactions. In the ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone, polymerization rates were clearly affected as monomer conversions were 58% and 49% and the highest molecular weights (M_n) obtained were 7890 and 5600 gmol^{? 1} for entrapment and adsorption methods, respectively.     

A microbial biosensor for hydrogen sulfide monitoring based on potentiometry

In this study, a microbial biosensor for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) detection based on Thiobacillus thioparus immobilized in a gelatin matrix was developed. The T. thioparus was immobilized via either surface adsorption on the gelatin matrix or entrapment in the matrix. The bacterial and gelatin concentration in the support were then varied in order to optimize the sensor response time and detection limit for both methods. The optimization was conducted by a statistical analysis of the measured biosensor response with various bacterial and polymer concentrations. According to our experiments with both immobilization methods, the optimized conditions for the entrapment method were found to be a gelatin concentration of 1% and an optical density of 82. For the surface adsorption method, 0.6% gelatin and an optical density of 88 were selected as the optimal conditions. A statistical model was developed based on the extent of the biosensor response in both methods of immobilization. The maximum change in the potential of the solution was 23.16 mV for the entrapment method and 34.34 mV for the surface absorption method. The response times for the entrapment and adsorption methods were 160 s and 105 s, respectively. The adsorption method is more advantageous for the development of a gas biosensor due to its shorter response time.     

The Experimental Design as Practical Approach to Develop and Optimize a Formulation of Peptide-Loaded Liposomes

To investigate the encapsulation of Print 3G, a peptidic agent that could reduce the angiogenic development of breast tumors, pegylated liposomes used as intravenous vectors were studied and characterized. Recently, the path of liposomes has been explored with success to improve the pharmacological properties of peptidic drugs and to stabilize them. In this study, loaded unilamellar vesicles composed of SPC:CHOL:mPEG2000-DSPE (47:47:6) were prepared by the hydration of lipid film technique. An HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of Print 3G to calculate its encapsulation efficiency. Observed Print 3G adsorption on different materials employed during liposome preparation (such as glass beads, tubing, and connections for extrusion) led to the modification of the manufacturing method. The freeze-thawing technique was used to enhance the amount of Print 3G encapsulated into blank liposomes prepared using the hydration of lipid film procedure. Many factors may influence peptide entrapment, namely the number of freeze-thawing cycles, the lipid concentration, the peptide concentration, and the mixing time. Consequently, a design of experiments was performed to obtain the best encapsulation efficiency while minimizing the number of experiments. The lipid concentration and the number of freeze-thawing cycles were identified as the positive factors influencing the encapsulation. As a result of the optimization, an optimum was found and encapsulation efficiencies were improved from around 30% to 63%. Liposome integrity was evaluated by photon correlation spectroscopy and freeze-fracture electron microscopy to ensure that the selected formulation possesses the required properties to be a potential candidate for further in vitro and in vivo experiments.     

Formulation and evaluation of mucoadhesive glipizide microspheres

The purpose of this research was to formulate and system-atically evaluate in vitro and in vivo performances of mucoadhesive microspheres of glipizide. Glipizide microspheres containing chitosan were prepared by simple emulsification phase separation technique using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. Results of preliminary trials indicate that volume of cross-linking agent, time for cross-linking, polymer-to-drug ratio, and speed of rotation affected characteristics of microspheres. Microspheres were discrete, spherical, and free flowing. The microspheres exhibited good mucoadhesive property in the in vitro wash-off test and also showed a high percentage drug entrapment efficiency. A 3² full factorial design was employed to study the effect of independent variables, polymer-to-drug ratio (X ₁), and stirring speed (X ₂) on dependent variables percentage mucoadhesion, t₈₀, drug entrapment efficiency, and swelling index. The best batch exhibited a high drug entrapment efficiency of 75% and a swelling index of 1.42; percentage mucoadhesion after 1 hour was 78%. The drug release was also sustained for more than 12 hours. The polymer-to-drug ratio had a more significant effect on the dependent variables. In vivo testing of the mucoadhesive microspheres to albino Wistar rats demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effect of glipizide.     

Effects of entrapment on nucleic acid content,cell morphology,cell surface property,and stress of pure cultures commonly found in biological wastewater treatment

The effects of cell entrapment on nucleic acid content, cell morphology, cell surface property, and stress of major groups of bacteria (betaproteobacteria and gammaproteobacteria) in biological municipal wastewater treatment were investigated. Three different entrapment media (alginate, carrageenan, and polyvinyl alcohol) were examined. Results indicated that the entrapment and type of entrapment media affected nucleic acid content, cell morphology, cell surface property, and stress of the three representative species (Alcaligenes faecalis, Comamonas testosteroni, and Pseudomonas putida) studied. The highest deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid increases were observed with the alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) entrapment, respectively. A cell morphological change from bacilli to coccoidal was observed in the case of alginate entrapment while the PVA-entrapped cells had a slim morphology when compared to non-entrapped cells and formed putative nanowires. The entrapment increased or decreased the surface roughness of cells depending on the type of entrapment media. Expression of a nitrosative stress gene, which is linked to oxygen deprivation, was observed more in the alginate-entrapped cells. These research findings advance the fundamental understanding of the entrapped cell physiology which can lead to more efficient entrapped cell-based wastewater treatment.     

Epoxidation of propylene utilizing Nocardia corallina immobilized by gel entrapment or adsorption

Nocardia corallina B-276 cells are capable of catalysing the direct epoxidation of propylene to propylene oxide, through a monooxygenase enzyme system. The present work was undertaken to see how immobilization of the whole cells by adsorption or entrapment on solid supports would influence the rate and duration of the epoxidation activity. With immobilization by adsorption, the propylene oxide forming activity was highest on hydrophobic supports, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Under certain conditions the activity was three times that of the free control cells. However, the duration of epoxidation activity was considerably less for the adsorbed cells. The cell loading by adsorption, determined with¹⁴C-labelled cells was 1.0–2.8 mg dry cell weight g^?1of support. The cells, whether immobilized or not (controls), were tested using a continuous gas flow packed-bed or bubble-type reactor. Immobilization of the cells by entrapment in calcium alginate beads gave about the same propylene oxide forming activity and stability as with control cells, provided the reactor was operated at low temperature (30°C) and low oxygen content (20%) of the feed stream. The results suggest that entrapment in a hydrophobic matrix might be a more favourable system; although additional investigation of the rate limiting steps as well as the cause of the activity loss with time is needed.     

Design of liposome to improve encapsulation efficiency of gelonin and its effect on immunoreactivity and ribosome inactivating property

Gelonin, purified from the seeds of Gelonium multiflorum, using cation-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography was characterised for its purity, homogeneity and molecular weight by reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) and SDS-PAGE analysis. The HPLC purified gelonin was used for entrapment studies in the liposomes. Liposomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation (REV) technique using three different types of lipid composition in the same molar ratio. The method resulted in 75–80% entrapment efficiency of gelonin in the liposomes. Entrapped and unentrapped gelonin was characterized for physico-chemical, immunochemical and biological properties. The immunoreactivity of entrapped gelonin was fully preserved but the ribosome-inactivating property was slightly inhibited. The method involved mild conditions, highly reproducible and the liposomes produced appeared to be stable for several months. It has important implications in the development of cell type specific cytotoxic agents where a chemical cross-linking is involved which significantly inhibits both immunoreactivity and ribosome-inactivating ability of the toxin.     

Relationship between fermentation capability and fatty acid composition of free and immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The fatty acid composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized by entrapment in calcium-alginate beads or adsorption on sintered glass was compared to that of freely suspended cells under different fermentation conditions. The fermentation product ethanol was found to cause a shift towards saturation in the fatty acid composition under anaerobic conditions. Immobilized cells contained significantly higher percentages of saturated fatty acyl residues, especially of palmitic acid (16:0), and a decreased amount of oleic acid (18:1) compared with free cells. The percentage saturation of total fatty acid composition correlates positively with improved fermentation rates obtained with the immobilized cells. This enhanced saturation of fatty acid composition in immobilized cells may be due to altered osmotic conditions in the microenvironment of the cells.     

Adsorption of a ribonucleic acid bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Summary The adsorption of a ribonucleic acid bacteriophage, PP7, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated using the following approaches: electron microscopic observation of the ultrastructure of phage-pili complexes, an adsorption technique employing chloroform and rapid dilution treatment which assays the number of phages remaining unadsorbed, the effect of shear treatment on the availability of the bacterial host's adsorption sites, and the effect of metabolic inhibition of the bacterial host on phage adsorption. The specific adsorption sites on the bacterial host were found to be the pili and only when attached to the bacterial cell. Adsorption is additionally dependent upon the metabolic integrity of the host cell. Variations in the morphology of P. aeruginosa pili were observed. The mechanism of adsorption of bacteriophage PP7 appears to be similar to that of the RNA phages of two other bacterial genera, Escherichia and Caulobacter.     

Photosynthesis,growth and hydrocarbon production ofBotryococcus braunii immobilized by entrapment and adsorption in polyurethane foams

Summary Direct entrapment of the hydrocarbonrich algaBotryococcus braunii was examined using eleven polyurethane prepolymers. A high toxicity was observed in several foams. With five of the tested prepolymers, nevertheless, a large part of the algal population can survive entrapment and substantial photosynthetic capacity, ca. 40–60% relative to free controls, was retained one day after immobilization. However, prolonged batches under standard conditions revealed a long-term toxicity; as a result the photosynthetic capacity and hydrocarbon production of the entrapped cultures were strongly reduced relative to free controls. Immobilization ofB. braunii was also achieved, with a loading yield of ca. 70%, via adsorption on FHP 4000 and FHP 5000 foams. Subsequent batch cultures under shaken and airlift conditions revealed a substantial release, ca. 30% of free cells, at the end of the cultures. However, the release from these adsorbed cultures was no higher than from directly entrappedB. braunii. Furthermore, no toxic effects were noted in the adsorbed cultures; the showed active growth, high photosynthetic capacity and produced quite large amounts of hydrocarbons, the chemical structure and the relative abundance of which were not altered by immobilization. Taking into account cell leakage, it appears that adsorbed cultures exhibit a similar, and sometimes even higher metabolic activity than free controls; thus, under air-lift conditions, high biomass and hydrocarbon productivities can be achieved.     

Effects of cell entrapment on growth rate and metabolic activity of pure cultures commonly found in biological wastewater treatment

The effects of cell entrapment on the growth rate and metabolic activity of major groups of bacteria (betaproteobacteria and gammaproteobacteria) in biological municipal wastewater treatment were investigated. Three different cell entrapment media (alginate, carrageenan and polyvinyl alcohol) and three cell-to-matrix ratios (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.6%, w v⁻¹) were examined. Representative species of betaproteobacteria were Alcaligenes faecalis and Comamonas testosteroni whereas Pseudomonas putida was a gammaproteobacteria species studied. Free (non-entrapped) cells were included in the study for comparative purpose. Results indicated that the entrapment, type of entrapment media, and cell-to-matrix ratio had significant effects on the growth and metabolic activity of major groups of bacteria in wastewater treatment. Polyvinyl alcohol entrapped cells had the highest specific growth and specific substrate utilization rates. Increase of cell-to-matrix ratio (from 0.1% to 0.2% or 0.6%) did not improve the specific growth and specific substrate utilization rates. The relative performances provided by different entrapment media of the three species studied were quite consistent. This study showed that the suitable choices of entrapment media and cell-to-matrix ratio are important but similar for major groups of bacteria in wastewater treatment.     

Immobilization of cells with nitrilase activity from a thermophilic bacterial strain

Cells of the moderately thermophilic Bacillus sp. UG-5B strain, producing nitrilase (EC3.5.5.1), which converts nitriles directly to the corresponding acid and ammonia, were immobilized using different types of matrices and techniques. A variety of sol-gel silica hybrids were tested for entrapment and adsorption of bacterial cells as well as chemical binding on polysulphone membranes. Activation of the matrix surface with formaldehyde led to an increase in immobilization efficiency and operational stability of the biocatalysts. Among the supports screened, membranes gave the best results for enzyme activity and especially operational stability, with retention of 100% activity after eight reaction cycles.     

Immobilized algae and their potential for use as biocatalysts

Algae are a largely untapped source of potentially useful biotransformations. Where algal immobilization is appropriate in exploiting this potential, methods fall into two categories: active entrapment and invasive adsorption, the choice of technique partly dependent on algal morphology. Current research on the use of immobilized algae is following a number of lines: as biocatalysts performing biotransformations and de novo biosyntheses, in energy production, for providing oxygen or NADPH₂ for coimmobilized biocatalysts, for the bioaccumulation of wastes, and for inclusion into biosensors.     

Temperature-Triggered Enzyme Immobilization and Release Based on Cross-Linked Gelatin Nanoparticles

A glucoamylase-immobilized system based on cross-linked gelatin nanoparticles (CLGNs) was prepared by coacervation method. This system exhibited characteristics of temperature-triggered phase transition, which could be used for enzyme immobilization and release. Their morphology and size distribution were examined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. Their temperature-triggered glucoamylase immobilization and release features were also further investigated under different temperatures. Results showed that the CLGNs were regularly spherical with diameters of 155±5 nm. The loading efficiencies of glucoamylase immobilized by entrapment and adsorption methods were 59.9% and 24.7%, respectively. The immobilized enzyme was released when the system temperature was above 40°C and performed high activity similar to free enzyme due to the optimum temperature range for glucoamylase. On the other hand, there was no enzyme release that could be found when the system temperature was below 40°C. The efficiency of temperature-triggered release was as high as 99.3% for adsorption method, while the release of enzyme from the entrapment method was not detected. These results indicate that CLGNs are promising matrix for temperature-triggered glucoamylase immobilization and release by adsorption immobilization method.     

Coimmobilization of D-amino acid oxidase and catalase by entrapment ofTrigonopsis variabilis in radiation polymerised Polyacrylamide beads

Trigonopsis variabilis induced for D-amino acid oxidase and catalase was immobilized by entrapment in Polyacrylamide beads obtained by radiation polymerisation. Permeabilization of the cells was found to be essential for optimal activity of the enzymes in free cells. However, the process of entrapment itself was found to eliminate the permeability barrier of cells immobilized in Polyacrylamide. The two enzymes exhibited a differential response on Polyacrylamide entrapment. Thus, D-amino acid oxidase activity was stabilized to heat inactivation whereas catalase in the same cells showed a destabilization on entrapment in Polyacrylamide. The coimmobilized enzyme preparation showed an operational half life of 7–9 days after which the D-amino acid oxidase activity remained stable at a value 35–40% of that of the initial activity for a study period of 3 weeks. Coimmobilization of MnO₂ was not effective in enhancing the operational life of the enzyme preparation.