Biomedical subjects

Richard A Gross

Publications and source records attributed to Richard A Gross.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Influence of PEG endgroup and molecular weight on its reactivity for lipase-catalyzed polyester synthesis.

Polycondensations were performed at 70 degrees C in bulk using physically immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B) as catalyst. Study of copolymerizations between sebacic acid and PEG diols of differing Mn values (200, 400, 600, 1000, 2000, and 10 000) showed that PEG 400 and 600 were most reactive (DP(avg) up to about 6). Increasing the PEG diol chain length from 600 to 1000, 2000, and 10 000 resulted in large decreases in copolymer DP(avg) values. PEG200 diacids (i.e., HOOC-(CH2)x-O-(CH2CH2O)n-(CH2)x-COOH) were successfully synthesized where x was 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Study of copolymerizations of these diacids with 1,8-octanediol showed that, by introduction of a five-carbon methylene spacer (x = 5), remarkable increases in the reactivity of PEG200 diacids were achieved. In addition, introduction of this spacer was also effective for increasing the reactivity of PEG diacids of higher molecular weight (i.e., PEG400, 600, and 1000). This work verified the hypothesis that, by conversion of PEG chain ends to structures more closely resembling fatty acids, modified PEG building blocks are obtained that are better recognized as substrates by CAL-B during condensation reactions.

Candida↗

PubMed2005

"Sweet silicones": biocatalytic reactions to form organosilicon carbohydrate macromers.

Immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435) catalyzed the regioselective formation of ester bonds between organosilicon carboxylic diacids and a C1-O-alkylated sugar under mild reaction conditions (i.e., low temperature, neutral pH, solventless). Specifically, the acid-functionalized organosilicones reacted with the primary hydroxyl group at the C6 position of alpha,beta-ethyl glucoside during the regioselective esterification. The pure organosilicon-sugar conjugates were prepared in a one-step reaction without protection-deprotection steps and without activation of the acid groups with the integrity of the siloxane bonds. [reaction: see text]

Candida↗

PubMed2005

Combinatorial approach to study enzyme/surface interactions.

A fast combinatorial approach to access information about the immobilization behavior and kinetics of enzymes on a variation of surfaces is presented. As a test system, Candida Antarctica Lipase B was immobilized on a self-assembled monolayer bearing a gradient of surface energy. The respective immobilization behavior was monitored by Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy. In addition, the activity of the immobilized enzyme was monitored over the entire film in real time with a specially developed fluorescence activity assay embedded into a siloxane gel. It was found that the highest amount of active protein was immobilized on the hydrophilic end of the gradient surface. This effect is associated with a higher surface roughness of this area resulting in hydrophobic micro-environments in which the enzyme gets immobilized.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

PubMed2004

Production of high molecular weight pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans HP-2001 with soybean pomace as a nitrogen source.

The production of pullulan by Aureobasidium pullulans HP-2001 was enhanced by yeast extract as a nitrogen source as well as soybean pomace. The highest production of pullulan by A. pullulans HP-2001 with yeast extract was 5.5 g/l whereas that of pullulan with soybean pomace was 7.5 g/l. The gas chromatogram of pullulan produced by A. pullulans HP-2001 with soybean pomace as a nitrogen source showed that the major and minor components were glucose and mannose. The FTIR spectra of pullulans produced with yeast extract, a mixture of yeast extract and soybean pomace, and soybean pomace alone exhibited similar features. The increase in content of reducing sugars after pullulanase treatment of pullulans produced with different nitrogen sources indicated that all the pullulans had alpha-(1,6) glucosidic linkages of alpha-(1,4) linked maltotriose units. The average molecular weights of pullulans produced with various concentrations of yeast extract and soybean pomace ranged from 0.17 to 1.32x10(6) and from 1.32 to 5.66x10(6), respectively. All pullulans produced by A. pullulans HP-2001 in this study had the same basic structures, but their ratios of monomeric components were a little different, which might result in the production of pullulans with different molecular weights.

Ascomycota↗

PubMed2003

Regioselective enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of sophorolipid esters, amides, and multifunctional monomers.

Novel enzyme-mediated synthetic routes were developed to provide a new family of sophorolipid derivatives and glycolopid-based amphiphilic monomers. These compounds are of great interest for their potential use in immunoregulation, as well as for other biological properties. In the present work, an efficient lipase-catalyzed conversion of sophorolipid ethyl ester to (a) the 6'-monoacylated derivatives using Novozym 435, (b) 6' '-monoacylated derivatives using Lipase PS-C, (c) secondary amide derivatives using Novozym 435, and (d) 6',6' '-diacylated amide derivatives using Novozym 435 in an one-pot reaction and (e) the regioselective monoacylation of an amide derivative at the 6'- and 6' '-positions using Novozym 435 and Lipase PS-C, respectively, are described. The ethyl ester produced by esterification of the sophorolipid mixture with sodium ethoxide was subjected to acylation catalyzed by Novozym 435 in dry tetrahedrofuran (THF) with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate to produce 6'-monoacylated derivatives. In contrast, Lipase PS-C catalyzed acylations of sophorolipid ethyl ester in dry THF with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate to give the corresponding 6'-monoacylated derivatives. Novozym 435 mediated amidation of sophorolipid ethyl ester in dry THF with phenethylamine, tyramine, p-methoxyphenethylamine, 2-(p-tolyl)ethylamine, and p-fluorophenethylamine generated the corresponding secondary amides but not tertiary amides. The formation of diacyl derivatives of amides was achieved by their treatment with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate in dry THF using Novozym 435 as catalyst. The conversion of sophorolipid ethyl ester to the same diacyl derivatives of amide (i.e., both amidation and acylation) in high yield was also demonstrated in dry THF by a one-pot reaction using Novozym 435. Furthermore, regioselective monoacylation of a sophorolipid amide at 6' and 6' ' in dry THF with vinyl acetate and vinyl methacrylate using Novozym 435 and Lipase PS-C was also demonstrated.

Acylation↗

PubMed2003

Activity of Candida rugosa lipase immobilized on gamma-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles.

We report the stability and enzymatic activity of Candida rugosa Lipase (E.C.3.1.1.3) immobilized on gamma-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles. The immobilization strategies were either reacting the enzyme amine group with a nanoparticle surface acetyl, or amine groups. In the former, the enzyme was attached through a C=N bond, while in the latter it was connected using glutaraldehyde. AFM images show an average particle size of 20 +/- 10 nm after deconvolution. The enzymatic activity of the immobilized lipase was determined by following the ester cleavage of p-nitrophenol butyrate. The covalently immobilized enzyme was stabile and reactive over 30 days.

Candida↗

PubMed2002

Biodegradable polymers for the environment.

Biodegradable polymers are designed to degrade upon disposal by the action of living organisms. Extraordinary progress has been made in the development of practical processes and products from polymers such as starch, cellulose, and lactic acid. The need to create alternative biodegradable water-soluble polymers for down-the-drain products such as detergents and cosmetics has taken on increasing importance. Consumers have, however, thus far attached little or no added value to the property of biodegradability, forcing industry to compete head-to-head on a cost-performance basis with existing familiar products. In addition, no suitable infrastructure for the disposal of biodegradable materials exists as yet.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2002

Biocatalytic route to well-defined macromers built around a sugar core.

By using 4-C-hydroxymethyl-alpha-D-pentofuranose as the sugar core and lipase-catalyzed transformations, a macromer was constructed with exceptional control of substituent placement around the carbohydrate core. The key synthetic transformations performed were as follows: (1) selective lipase-catalyzed acrylation along with prochiral selection of 4-C-hydroxymethyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-pentofuranose (diastereomeric excess up to 93%); (2) the ring-opening of epsilon-caprolactone, epsilon-CL, from the remaining primary hydroxyl group to give an acryl-sugar capped macromer (M(n) = 11 300, M(w)/M(n) = 1.36, initiator efficiency 50-55%, <5% water initiated PCL chains); (3) selective lipase-catalyzed esterification of the terminal hydroxyl of oligo(epsilon-CL) chains; (4) hydrolysis of the 1,2-O-isopropylidene group at the sugar core without any substantial loss in macromer molecular weight; and (5) homopolymerization of the corresponding macromer. In principle, the method developed is flexible so that it can be used to generate a wide array of unusual macromers and heteroarm stars. In the absence of biocatalytic transformation, such structural control would be extremely difficult or currently impossible to obtain.

Carbohydrate Metabolism↗

PubMed2002

Oxygen transfer rate and sophorose lipid production by Candida bombicola.

Sophorose lipids (SLs) have applications as surfactants and are produced at high levels by several yeasts. We developed a fed-batch shake-flask method for the production of SLs by Candida bombicola ATCC 22214. Optimal aeration, expressed in terms of oxygen transfer rate, was between 50 and 80 mM O(2)/L h(-1) and resulted in maximum values for both volumetric product formation (1-1.5 g/L h(-1)) and SL yield (350 g/L). The lowest aeration levels resulted in the enrichment in saturated fatty acid SLs at the expense of unsaturated fatty acid SLs.

Biotechnology↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Imaging the distribution and secondary structure of immobilized enzymes using infrared microspectroscopy.

Synchrotron infrared microspectroscopy (SIRMS) was used for the first time to image the distribution and secondary structure of an enzyme (lipase B from Candida antarctica, CALB) immobilized within a macroporous polymer matrix (poly(methyl methacrylate)) at 10 microm resolution. The beads of this catalyst (Novozyme435) were cut into thin sections (12 microm). SIRMS imaging of these thin sections revealed that the enzyme is localized in an external shell of the bead with a thickness of 80-100 microm. Also, the enzyme was unevenly distributed throughout this shell. Furthermore, by SIRMS-generated spectra, it was found that CALB secondary structure was not altered by immobilization. Unlike CALB, polystyrene molecules of similar molecular weight diffuse easily throughout Novozyme435 beads. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images of the Novozyme435 beads showed that the average pore size is 10 times larger than CALB or polystyrene molecules, implying that there is no physical barrier to enzyme or substrate diffusion throughout the bead. Thus, the difference between polystyrene and enzyme diffusivity suggests that protein-matrix and protein-protein interactions govern the distribution of the enzyme within the macroporous resin.

Candida↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lipase-catalyzed polycondensations: effect of substrates and solvent on chain formation, dispersity, and end-group structure.

The effects of substrates and solvent on polymer formation, number-average molecular weight (M(n)), polydispersity, and end-group structure for lipase-catalyzed polycondensations were investigated. Diphenyl ether was found to be the preferred solvent for the polyesterification of adipic acid and 1,8-octanediol giving a M(n) of 28 500 (48 h, 70 degrees C). The effect of varying the alkylene chain length of diols and diacids on the molecular weight distribution and the polymer end-group structure was assessed. A series of diacids (succinic, glutaric, adipic, and sebacic acid) and diols (1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and 1,8-octanediol) were polymerized in solution and in bulk. It was found that reactions involving monomers having longer alkylene chain lengths of diacids (sebacic and adipic acid) and diols (1,8-octanediol and 1,6-hexanediol) give a higher reactivity than reactions of shorter chain-length diacids (succinic and glutaric acid) and 1,4-butanediol. The bulk lipase-catalyzed condensation reactions were feasible, but the use of diphenyl ether gave higher M(n) values (42,400 g/mol in 3 days at 70 degrees C). The polydispersity varied little over the conditions studied giving values </=2. No specific trend with respect to end-group structure as a function of time was observed. At 70 degrees C, the retention of catalyst activity in the bulk was independent of substrate structure but was higher when reactions were conducted in diphenyl ether than in bulk.

Catalysis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mild, solvent-free omega-hydroxy acid polycondensations catalyzed by candida antarctica lipase B.

Immobilized Candida antarctica Lipase B (Novozyme-435) was studied for bulk polyesterifications of linear aliphatic hydroxyacids of variable chain length. The products formed were not fractionated by precipitation. The relative reactivity of the hydroxyacids was l6-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid approximately 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid approximately 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (DPavg congruent with 120, Mw/Mn 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid (DPavg congruent with 80, Mw/Mn < or = 1.5, 48 h, 90 degrees C). Remarkable improvements in molecular-weight buildup resulted from leaving water in the reaction. By 4 h, without application of vacuum, the DPavg for 12- and 16-carbon hydroxyacids was about 90. In contrast, with identical substrates and water removal, the DPavg at 4 h was about 23. Large differences in the molecular-weight build up of 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid were observed for catalyst concentrations (%-by-wt relative to monomer) of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 10. Nevertheless, by 24 h, with 1% catalyst containing 0.1% lipase, poly(12-hydroxydodecanoic acid) with Mn 17 600 was formed. For 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid polymerization at 90 degrees C, the catalyst activity decreased by 7, 18, and 25% at reaction times of 4, 24, and 48 h, respectively. Furthermore, the retention of catalyst activity was invariable as a function of the substrates used.

Candida↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cocrystallization of random copolymers of omega-pentadecalactone and epsilon-caprolactone synthesized by lipase catalysis.

Random copolymers were prepared by Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozyme-435) catalyzed copolymerization of omega-pentadecalactone (PDL) with epsilon-caprolactone (CL). Over the whole composition range PDL-CL copolymers are highly crystalline (melting enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry, above 100 J/g; crystallinity degree by wide-angle X-ray scattering, WAXS, 60-70%). The copolymers melt at temperatures that linearly decrease with composition from that of poly(omega-pentadecalactone) (PPDL; 97 degrees C) to that of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL; 59 degrees C). The WAXS profiles of PCL and PPDL homopolymers are very similar, except for the presence in PPDL of the (001) reflection at 2theta = 4.58 degrees that corresponds to a 19.3 angstroms periodicity in the chain direction. In PDL-CL copolymers the intensity of this reflection decreases with increasing content of CL units and vanishes at 50 mol % CL, as a result of randomization of the ester group alignment and loss of chain periodicity. PDL-CL copolymers crystallize in a lattice that gradually changes from that of one homopolymer to that of the other, owing to comonomer isomorphous substitution. Cocrystallization of comonomer units is also shown by a random PDL-CL copolymer obtained in a polymerization/transesterification reaction catalyzed by C. antarctica lipase B (Novozyme-435) starting from preformed PCL and PDL monomer.

Bacterial Proteins↗