Additives and Enzyme Stability

The polypeptide chain of an enzyme is folded so that the necessary functional groups are brought together in the active site. Conformational changes may disrupt this arrangement and cause loss of enzymic activity. The effect of soluble additives on the unfolding process is discussed. Additives may be classified as substrates and similar ligands, small uncharged organic molecules, specific and non-specific ionic species, and polymers.     

A New Electrolyte Formulation for Securing High Temperature Cycling and Storage Performances of Na‐Ion Batteries

The Na‐ion battery is recognized as a possible alternative to the Li‐ion battery for applications where power and cost override energy density performance. However, the increasing instability of their electrolyte with temperature is still problematic. Thus, a central question remains how to design Na‐based electrolytes. Here, the discovery of a Na‐based electrolyte formulation is reported which enlists four additives (vinylene carbonate, succinonitrile, 1,3‐propane sultone, and sodium difluoro(oxalate)borate) in proper quantities that synergistically combine their positive attributes to enable a stable solid electrolyte interphase at both negative and positive electrodes surface at 55 °C. Moreover, the role of each additive that consists in producing specific NaF coatings, thin elastomers, sulfate‐based deposits, and so on via combined impedance and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is rationalized. It is demonstrated that empirical electrolyte design rules previously established for Li‐ion technology together with theoretical guidance is vital in the quest for better Na‐based electrolytes that can be extended to other chemistries. Overall, this finding, which is implemented to 18 650 cells, widens the route to the rapid development of the Na‐ion technology based on Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃/C chemistry.     

Insights into protective effects of medium additives on animal cells under fluid stresses: the hydrophobic interactions

Animal cells in suspension culture can suffer severe mechanical damage from bursting gas bubbles or other hydrodynamic force sources. Certain chemical additives in the culture media, particularly some surface-active chemicals, can effectively protect animal cells against such damage. Previously we proposed that the protective effect is associated with the adsorption of the additives in the cell membrane through hydrophobic binding of the surface-active molecules to the membrane. Adsorption of the additives to the cell membrane may lead to decreased hydrophobicity of the cell surface, thus eliminating cell adhesion to bubbles and reducing cell damage from bursting bubbles. In this study, we measured the hydrophobicity of two insect cell lines based on cell adhesion to hydrocarbon phase and its influence by surface-active chemicals, Pluronic F68, a methylcellulose and a polyethylene glycol. The experimental results showed strong support for the aforecited cell protection mechanism.     

Enzymatic Preparation of Mono- and Di-Stearin by Glycerolysis of Ethyl Stearate and Direct Esterification of Glycerol in the Presence of a Lipase from Candida Antarctica (Novozym 435)

Mixtures of 1(3)-monostearin and distearin were prepared by direct esterification of glycerol with stearic acid or transesterification using ethyl stearate as acyl donor in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase (Novozym 435) using a variety of solvents of differing polarity. In all cases, the transesterification resulted in higher product yields. In n-heptane as reaction medium the addition of water (3%) was essential for high product yields, with mono- and distearin being produced in almost equal amounts. Using more polar solvents as reaction media, such as acetonitrile or acetone, again the highest yields were obtained in the transesterification mode; employing these solvents the reactions were much more selective towards the formation of monostearin.     

常用食品防腐剂抗菌作用的研究

采用杯碟法和琼脂平板点种法分别测定２０种常用食品防腐剂对３０株菌的抑菌圈直径和最低抑菌浓度,借此判断药剂抗菌力的大小。实验结果表明,在所测２０种防腐剂中,对细菌抑制力最强者是乙酸,对霉菌和酵母菌抑制力最强者是富马酸二甲酯。     

Properties of acetylcholinesterase reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) purified from mouse brain was reconstituted in liposomes of a different charge, and the properties of liposome-associated AChE were investigated. Relative to the K_m value (38.5 M) of AChE bound to a neutral liposome, the value of AChE reconstituted in a negatively-charged liposome decreased to 23.3 M, whereas that of AChE in a positively-charged liposome increased to 90.9 M. Additionally, AChE bound to a positively-charged liposome expressed a wider range of optimum pH than the enzyme in a negatively-charged liposome. In a stability study, it was found that soluble AChE was unstable at pH 5.5 and 7.4, while it was relatively stable at pH 10. Noteworthy, the immobilization of AChE to liposome enhanced the stability of soluble enzyme at acidic and neutral pH. Moreover, in the stabilization of the enzyme, a neutral liposome was more effective than charged liposomes, of which a positively-charged liposome was more effective than a negatively-charged liposome at acidic pH. Based on these results, it is proposed that while the K_m value and the pH dependence of AChE activity are affected by the charge of liposome, the stability of AChE is determined mainly by a hydrophobic binding to a phospholipid membrane.This work was supported in part by Agency for Defense Development.     

An Antiaging Electrolyte Additive for High‐Energy‐Density Lithium‐Ion Batteries

High‐capacity Li‐rich layered oxide cathodes along with Si‐incorporated graphite anodes have high reversible capacity, outperforming the electrode materials used in existing commercial products. Hence, they are potential candidates for the development of high‐energy‐density lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, structural degradation induced by loss of interfacial stability is a roadblock to their practical use. Here, the use of malonic acid‐decorated fullerene (MA‐C₆₀) with superoxide dismutase activity and water scavenging capability as an electrolyte additive to overcome the structural instability of high‐capacity electrodes that hampers the battery quality is reported. Deactivation of PF₅ by water scavenging leads to the long‐term stability of the interfacial structures of electrodes. Moreover, an MA‐C₆₀‐added electrolyte deactivates the reactive oxygen species and constructs an electrochemically robust cathode‐electrolyte interface for Li‐rich cathodes. This work paves the way for new possibilities in the design of electrolyte additives by eliminating undesirable reactive substances and tuning the interfacial structures of high‐capacity electrodes in LIBs.     

A Review on Additives for Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

Additives are widely adopted for efficient, stable, and hysteresis‐free perovskite solar cells and play an important role in various breakthroughs of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein the various additives adopted for PSCs are reviewed and their functioning mechanism and influence on device performance is described. The main roles of additives, modulating morphology of perovskite films, stabilizing phase of formamidinium (FA) and cesium (Cs)‐based perovskites, adjusting energy level alignment in PSCs, suppressing nonradiative recombination in perovskites, eliminating hysteresis, enhancing operational stability of PSCs, are summarized.     

藻类中添加剂的应用研究进展

藻类富含多种营养元素和活性物质,具有重要的经济价值和广阔的应用前景。现阶段藻类培养多采用露天跑道池,成本低,但易受环境影响。不适宜的环境条件(温度、酸性、重金属、紫外、盐度和光强胁迫等)会造成藻类生产成本上升、产品产量及品质下降等后果,严重制约藻类养殖业及相关产业的发展。添加剂不仅能有效促进藻类生长,还能缓解环境胁迫对其带来的逆境伤害。将近年来添加剂在藻类生长及抗逆方面的应用进行系统汇总,并对已阐明的几种添加剂的作用机理进行分析整理。添加剂在藻类中的应用研究大多停留在生长及生理指标的测定,如藻细胞密度、光系统活性、渗透调节物质含量、脂质含量、过氧化氢酶和硝酸还原酶活力等,仅有少部分研究是利用分子技术测定防御基因的表达情况,尝试进一步探究藻类抗逆性分子机制。旨在为研究者进一步明确常用添加剂在藻类中的信号传导机制及改善非生物胁迫造成的产品产量及品质的问题提供理论依据,具有重要现实意义。