Nanopartículas de alginato como sistema de liberação para o herbicida clomazone

In this paper, we describe the preparation of alginate nanoparticles as a delivery system for the herbicide clomazone. Two different methods were investigated and characterized by size distribution, zeta potencial, pH and in vitro release. The alginate/AOT nanoparticles had higher rates of association of the herbicide clomazone than alginate/chitosan nanoparticles. Clomazone release profile, showed a significant difference in release behavior of pure herbicide in solution when compared with herbicide loaded in both alginate nanoparticles. This study is important to construct a biodegradable release system using herbicide for later release into more specific targets, avoiding contamination of environmental matrices.

Produção de substratos sers eficientes através da deposição de ouro sobre um molde de microesferas de poliestireno

This work reports on the SERS activity of a nanostructured substrate that was obtained by electrodepositing gold over a template consisting of polystyrene microspheres. This substrate displayed superior SERS performance for the detection of 4-merctaptopyridine as compared to a conventional roughened Au electrode. In order to investigate the substrate capability for the detection at low concentration limits, a series of Rhodamine 6G (1 nM) spectra were registered. Our spectral dynamics data is in agreement with single-molecule behavior, showing that the control over the substrate morphology is crucial to enable the production of highly reproducible and sensitive SERS substrates.

Desempenho da matriz híbrida SiO2-quitosana na imobilização da lipase microbiana de Candida rugosa

Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized by covalent attachment on hybrid SiO2-chitosan obtained by sol-gel technique. A comparative study between free and immobilized lipase was provided in terms of pH, temperature, kinetic parameters and thermal stability on the olive oil hydrolysis. The pH and temperature for maximum activity shifted from 7.0 and 45 ºC for the free lipase to 7.5 and wide range of temperature (40-50 ºC) after immobilization. Kinetics parameters were found to obey Michaelis-Menten equation and K M values indicated that immobilization process reduced the affinity of enzyme-substrate; however Kd values revealed an increase of thermal stability of lipase.

Aplicação de quitosana como suporte para a imobilização de enzimas de interesse industrial

Chitosan, poly[β-(1-4)-linked-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose], is the N-deacetylated product of chitin which is a major component of arthropod and crustacean shells such as lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and cuttlefishes. In addition, chitosan has many significant biological and chemical properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and bioactivity as well as polycationic properties. Thus, it has been widely used in many industrial and biomedical applications including wastewater treatment, chromatographic support, carriers for controlled drug delivery and enzyme immobilization. This review is an insight into the exploitation of utilization of chitosan based-supports in different geometrical configurations on the immobilization of enzymes by different protocols for further application in biotransformation reactions.

Remoção dos corantes azul brilhante, amarelo crepúsculo e amarelo tartrazina de soluções aquosas utilizando carvão ativado, terra ativada, terra diatomácea, quitina e quitosana: estudos de equilíbrio e termodinâmica

This work compared activated carbon, activated earth, diatomaceous earth, chitin and chitosan to removal acid blue 9, food yellow 3 and FD&C yellow nº 5 dyes from aqueous solutions with different pH values (2-10). In the best process condition for each dye, equilibrium studies were carried out at different temperatures (from 298 to 328 K) and Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were fitted with experimental data. In addition, entropy change, Gibbs free energy change and enthalpy change were obtained in order to verify the thermodynamic adsorption behavior.

Diferentes estratégias para a reticulação de quitosana

One of the most important aspects of chitosan' derivatization depends on the crosslinking of their polymeric chains. This chemical strategy may confer new properties to those derivatives, which can be used to enhance their biotechnological applications. So far, this work aims to discuss some strategies related to the crosslinking of chitosan focusing on reagents, reaction mechanisms and properties/applications of the crosslinked derivatives in several fields of science.

Desenvolvimento e validação de métodos analíticos para determinação de ácido glicirrízico, ácido salicílico e cafeína em nanopartículas de quitosana e alginato

The present work consists of the development and validation of analytical method for evaluation of glycyrrhizic acid, salicylic acid, and caffeine in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles by high performance liquid chromatography. Method validation investigated parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness and specificity, which gave results within the acceptable range. The methods were applied to nanoparticles suspensions containing the drugs and were able to determine the entrapment efficiency successfully. The best entrapment efficiency was achieved with the glycyrrhizic acid (95.4%).

Triagem de suportes orgânicos e protocolos de ativação na imobilização e estabilização de lipase de Thermomyces lanuginosus

Lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was covalently immobilized on activated poly-hydroxybutyrate, sugarcane bagasse and the chemically modified hybrid hydrogel chitosan-alginate prepared by different strategies. Among the tested supports, chitosan-alginate chemically modified with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid rendered derivatives with the highest hydrolytic activity and thermal-stability, 45-fold more stable than soluble lipase and was then selected for further studies. The pH of maximum activity was similar for both immobilized and free lipase (pH 8.0) while optimum temperature was 5 - 10 ºC higher for the immobilized lipase. Higher yields in the butyl butyrate synthesis were found for the derivatives prepared by activation with glycidol and epichlorohydrin.

Imobilização e caracterização de lacase e seu uso na biodegradação de efluentes de indústrias papeleiras

Laccase from Aspergillus sp was immobilized on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan beads. A comparative study between free and immobilized laccase was conducted and the potential of the resulting immobilized derivative in the biodegradation of pulp and paper mill effluent was evaluated. The immobilized laccase is more resistant to various denaturing conditions, which allows for the reduction of 65% of the phenols (total and low molecular weight) and loss of 60% of total color in the effluent. These results show the potential of the immobilized laccase in the biodegradation of phenols, the chemical agents responsible for the high toxicity of the effluent generated in cellulose pulp industries.

Imobilização de lacase de Aspergillus sp. em quitosana e sua aplicação na bioconversão de fenóis em reatores de leito fixo

The immobilization of laccase on chitosan by cross-linking and application of the immobilized laccase in the bioconversion of phenolic compounds in batch and fixed bed reactors were studied. The process for immobilization of enzyme was optimized using a rotational central composite design. The optimized conditions to generate immobilized laccase with maximal activity were determined to be a glutaraldehyde concentration of 1.0% (v/v), a pH of 6.0, an immobilization time of 5.0 hours and an enzyme concentration of 5.2 g L-1. In packed bed reactors, the activity of the immobilized enzyme is maintained for a longer time in the bioconversion of 2,6-dimethoxyphenol than in the bioconversion of syringaldazine.

Obtenção e caracterização de matriz apropriada para sistemas de liberação prolongada: estudos de liberação dos herbicidas atrazina e diuron

This study aimed to produce and characterize a novel material from fish scales and chitosan for use as a medium for the extended release of herbicides. The mechanism of release for the herbicides atrazine and diuron was influenced by diffusion and swelling according to the power law kinetic model. The atrazine release time was seven days, while that of diuron was four days. The results of this study will contribute to the development of environmental matrices for herbicide release systems.

Nanocompósito de polpa de mamão e nanopartículas de quitosana para aplicação em embalagens

Nanocomposite materials have been incorporated into biopolymers, (e.g. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), to improve their physical and chemical properties and enable them to be applied in food packaging, especially for their biodegradable and renewable properties. With this addition, fruit puree has been incorporated into the films to confer nutritional properties besides color and flavor. Chitosan is of interest in the packaging field since it is a biodegradable, bioabsorbable, antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, chitosan nanoparticles have been widely explored for their interesting properties and potential applications in food packaging. This work was divided into two stages: (1) chitosan nanoparticle synthesis; (2) addition of nanoparticles into HPMC and papaya puree films. Addition of chitosan nanoparticles to HPMC and papaya puree films improved film properties: mechanical, thermal and water vapor barrier. We have developed a novel nanomaterial with great potential for application in packaging to prolong the shelf life of food.

ENCAPSULAÇÃO DO ÁCIDO L-ASCÓRBICO NO BIOPOLÍMERO NATURAL GALACTOMANANA POR SPRAY‑DRYING: PREPARAÇÃO, CARACTERIZAÇÃO E ATIVIDADE ANTIOXIDANTE

AbstractIn this study, the spray drying technique was used to prepare L-ascorbic acid (AA) microparticles encapsulated with galactomannan-an extract from the seeds of the Delonix regia species. The physico-chemical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and encapsulation efficiency of the AA microparticles were evaluated and characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The free-radical scavenging activity of the AA microparticles was determined at different environmental conditions using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl). X-ray diffraction measurements demonstrated a loss of crystallinity in AA after the encapsulation process, and a DSC scan also showed the loss of the compound's melting peak. Thermogravimetric analysis showed small differences in the thermal stability of galactomannan before and after the incorporation of AA. The mean diameters of the obtained spherical microspheres were in the range of 1.39 ± 0.77 µm. The encapsulation efficiency of AA microparticles in different environmental conditions varied from 95.40 to 97.92, and the antioxidant activity showed values ranging from 0.487 to 0.550 mg mL-1.

DNA-lipid systems: A physical chemistry study

It is well known that the interaction of polyelectrolytes with oppositely charged surfactants leads to an associative phase separation; however, the phase behavior of DNA and oppositely charged surfactants is more strongly associative than observed in other systems. A precipitate is formed with very low amounts of surfactant and DNA. DNA compaction is a general phenomenon in the presence of multivalent ions and positively charged surfaces; because of the high charge density there are strong attractive ion correlation effects. Techniques like phase diagram determinations, fluorescence microscopy, and ellipsometry were used to study these systems. The interaction between DNA and catanionic mixtures (i.e., mixtures of cationic and anionic surfactants) was also investigated. We observed that DNA compacts and adsorbs onto the surface of positively charged vesicles, and that the addition of an anionic surfactant can release DNA back into solution from a compact globular complex between DNA and the cationic surfactant. Finally, DNA interactions with polycations, chitosans with different chain lengths, were studied by fluorescence microscopy, in vivo transfection assays and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The general conclusion is that a chitosan effective in promoting compaction is also efficient in transfection.

Molecular adjuvant interleukin-33 enhances the antifertility effect of Lagurus lagurus zona pellucida 3 DNA vaccine administered by the mucosal route

It has been shown that cytokines can act as molecular adjuvant to enhance the immune response induced by DNA vaccines, but it is unknown whether interleukin 33 (IL-33) can enhance the immunocontraceptive effect induced by DNA vaccines. In the present study, we explored the effects of murine IL-33 on infertility induced by Lagurus lagurus zona pellucida 3 (Lzp3) contraceptive DNA vaccine administered by the mucosal route. Plasmid pcD-Lzp3 and plasmid pcD-mIL-33 were encapsulated with chitosan to generate the nanoparticle chi-(pcD-Lzp3+pcD-mIL-33) as the DNA vaccine. Sixty female ICR mice, divided into 5 groups (n=12/group), were intranasally immunized on days 0, 14, 28, and 42. After intranasal immunization, the anti-LZP3-specific IgG in serum and IgA in vaginal secretions and feces were determined by ELISA. The results showed that chi-(pcD-Lzp3+pcD-mIL-33) co-immunization induced the highest levels of serum IgG, secreted mucosal IgA, and T cell proliferation. Importantly, mice co-immunized with chi-(pcD-Lzp3+pcD-mIL-33) had the lowest birth rate and mean litter size, which correlated with high levels of antibodies. Ovaries from infertile female mice co-immunized with chi-(pcD-Lzp3+pcD-mIL-33) showed abnormal development of ovarian follicles, indicated by atretic follicles and loss of oocytes. Our results demonstrated that intranasal delivery of the molecular adjuvant mIL-33 with chi-pcD-Lzp3significantly increased infertility by enhancing both systemic and mucosal immune responses. Therefore, chi-(pcD-Lzp3+pcD-mIL-33) co-immunization could be a strategy for controlling the population of wild animal pests.