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- Fachbereich Chemie und Biotechnologie (30) (remove)
For several thousand years, biotechnology and its associated technical processes have had a great impact on the development of mankind. Based on empirical methods, in particular for the production of foodstuffs and daily commodities, these disciplines have become one of the most innovative future issues. Due to the increasing detailed understanding of cellular processes, production strains can now be optimized. In combination with modern bioprocesses, a variety of bulk and fine chemicals as well as pharmaceuticals can be produced efficiently. In this article, some of the current trends in biotechnology are discussed.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel films with incorporated graphene oxide (GO) were developed and tested as light-stimulated actuators. GO dispersions were synthesized via Hummers method and characterized toward their optical properties and photothermal energy conversion. The hydrogels were prepared by means of photopolymerization. In addition, the influence of GO within the hydrogel network on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The optical absorbance and the response to illumination were determined as a function of GO concentration for thin hydrogel films. A proof of principle for the stimulation with light was performed.
Subtilisins from microbial sources, especially from the Bacillaceae family, are of particular interest for biotechnological applications and serve the currently growing enzyme market as efficient and novel biocatalysts. Biotechnological applications include use in detergents, cosmetics, leather processing, wastewater treatment and pharmaceuticals. To identify a possible candidate for the enzyme market, here we cloned the gene of the subtilisin SPFA from Fictibacillus arsenicus DSM 15822ᵀ (obtained through a data mining-based search) and expressed it in Bacillus subtilis DB104. After production and purification, the protease showed a molecular mass of 27.57 kDa and a pI of 5.8. SPFA displayed hydrolytic activity at a temperature optimum of 80 °C and a very broad pH optimum between 8.5 and 11.5, with high activity up to pH 12.5. SPFA displayed no NaCl dependence but a high NaCl tolerance, with decreasing activity up to concentrations of 5 m NaCl. The stability enhanced with increasing NaCl concentration. Based on its substrate preference for 10 synthetic peptide 4-nitroanilide substrates with three or four amino acids and its phylogenetic classification, SPFA can be assigned to the subgroup of true subtilisins. Moreover, SPFA exhibited high tolerance to 5% (w/v) SDS and 5% H₂O₂ (v/v). The biochemical properties of SPFA, especially its tolerance of remarkably high pH, SDS and H₂O₂, suggest it has potential for biotechnological applications.
Bei der Stärkeproduktion entstehendes Kartoffelfruchtwasser besitzt mit 2 – 3 % einen hohen Anteil an ernährungsphysiologisch interessanten Proteinen. Die industrielle Gewinnung dieser Proteinfracht liefert jedoch lediglich ein minderwertiges, denaturiertes Produkt. Mit Hilfe der Membranadsorber-Technologie lassen sich aus Kartoffelfruchtwasser unter milden Reaktionsbedingungen native bioaktive Proteinfraktionen gewinnen. Geeignete Trennbedingungen wurden im Labormaßstab entwickelt und in den Technikumsmaßstab übertragen. An Anionenaustauscher-Membranadsorbern mit einer Membranfläche von 10 000 cm2 wurde eine Patatinhaltige Fraktion (44 kDa) mit Bindungskapazitäten von 0,37 mg/cm2 isoliert. Eine niedermolekulare Proteinfraktion mit Protease-Inhibitoren konnte durch Kationenaustauscher-Membranadsorber mit Bindungskapazitäten von 1,00 mg/cm2 gewonnen werden. Sie ist für verschiedenste Applikationen in der pharmazeutischen, kosmetischen und der Nahrungsmittelindustrie interessant z. B. für Appetitzügler oder muskelaufbauende Proteinpräparate. Der Aufreinigung der nativen Proteinfraktionen durch Ultra-/Diafiltration schließt sich die Konfektionierung durch Sprühtrocknung an. Die bioanalytische Charakterisierung der Produkte belegt die Reinheit und die enzymatische Aktivität sowie die Abreicherung von Störkomponenten wie Glykoalkaloide und Polyphenoloxidasen.
Poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, with a degree of polymerization Xn = 10 was prepared by chain-transfer radical polymerization using carbon tetrachloride and used as oligomeric plasticizer for commercial PVAc. However, the chlorinated chain ends cause a low thermal stability requiring mild Cl/H substitution. The product exhibits high thermal stability and excellent melt-compounding properties. Blends of oligomeric and commercial PVAc show single glass transition temperatures which decrease with higher oligomer content and exhibit small negative deviations from Fox' linear additivity rule. This indicates plasticization and miscibility being mainly due to entropic effects. Injection-moulded thick specimens show ductile behaviour at oligomer contents >10 wt %, while sheets with a thickness of 0.2–0.5 mm appear flexible already at 7.5 wt %. The oxygen permeability coefficients are an order of magnitude lower than those of low-density polyethylene. Due to the sum of their properties, the plasticized sheets present a promising alternative in the preparation of barrier materials.
Molecular Modeling Approach to the Prediction of Mechanical Properties of Silica-Reinforced Rubbers
(2014)
Recently, we have suggested a nanomechanical model for dissipative loss in filled elastomer networks in the context of the Payne effect. The mechanism is based on a total interfiller particle force exhibiting an intermittent loop, due to the combination of short-range repulsion and dispersion forces with a long-range elastic attraction. The sum of these forces leads, under external strain, to a spontaneous instability of “bonds” between the aggregates in a filler network and attendant energy dissipation. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to obtain chemically realistic forces between surface modified silica particles. The latter are combined with the above model to estimate the loss modulus and the low strain storage modulus in elastomers containing the aforementioned filler-compatibilizer systems. The model is compared to experimental dynamic moduli of silica filled rubbers. We find good agreement between the model predictions and the experiments as function of the compatibilizer's molecular structure and its bulk concentration.
Bioconjugates containing the GnRH-III hormone decapeptide as a targeting moiety are able to deliver chemotherapeutic agents specifically to cancer cells expressing GnRH receptors, thereby increasing their local efficacy while limiting the peripheral toxicity. However, the number of GnRH receptors on cancer cells is limited and they desensitize under continuous hormone treatment. A possible approach to increase the receptor mediated tumor targeting and consequently the cytostatic effect of the bioconjugates would be the attachment of more than one chemotherapeutic agent to one GnRH-III molecule. Here we report on the design, synthesis and biochemical characterization of multifunctional bioconjugates containing GnRH-III as a targeting moiety and daunorubicin as a chemotherapeutic agent. Two different drug design approaches were pursued. The first one was based on the bifunctional [4Lys]-GnRH-III (Glp-His-Trp-Lys-His-Asp-Trp-Lys-Pro-Gly-NH2) containing two lysine residues in positions 4 and 8, whose ϵ-amino groups were used for the coupling of daunorubicin. In the second drug design, the native GnRH-III (Glp-His-Trp-Ser-His-Asp-Trp-Lys-Pro-Gly-NH2) was used as a scaffold; an additional lysine residue was coupled to the ϵ-amino group of 8Lys in order to generate two free amino groups available for conjugation of daunorubicin. The in vitro stability/degradation of all synthesized compounds was investigated in human serum, as well as in the presence of rat liver lysosomal homogenate. Their cellular uptake was determined on human breast cancer cells and the cytostatic effect was evaluated on human breast, colon and prostate cancer cell lines. Compared with a monofunctional compound, both drug design approaches resulted in multifunctional bioconjugates with increased cytostatic effect.