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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Biocatalytic asymmetric rearrangement of a methylene-interrupted bis-epoxide: simultaneous control of four asymmetric centers through a biomimetic reaction cascade.

Asymmetric enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of methylene-interrupted bis-epoxides 1 a and 1 b catalyzed by bacterial epoxide hydrolases furnished tetrahydrofuran derivatives 2 a and 2 b through a hydrolysis-rearrangement cascade. Whereas racemic bis-oxiranes 1 b-d underwent kinetic resolution with moderate stereoselectivities to yield products with up to 92 % ee and 66 % de: meso-bis-oxirane cis,cis-1 a was transformed into (6R,7R,9S,10S)-2 a in 94 % ee and 89 % de at high conversion (85 %) by Rhodococcus sp. CBS 717.73 as the major product. The reaction sequence resembles a biomimetic reaction cascade and provides an efficient entry into the structural core of annonaceous acetogenins with simultaneous control of four stereocenters.

Actinomycetales↗

Biomimetic synthesis of the tumor-associated (2,3)-sialyl-T antigen and its incorporation into glycopeptide antigens from the mucins MUC1 and MUC4.

Glycoproteins on epithelial tumor cells often exhibit aberrant glycosylation profiles. The incomplete formation of the glycan side chains resulting from a down-regulated glucosamine transfer and a premature sialylation results in additional peptide epitopes, which become accessible to the immune system in mucin-type glycoproteins. These cancer-specific structure alterations are considered to be a promising basis for selective immunological attack on tumor cells. Among the tumor-associated saccharide antigens, the (2,3)-sialyl-T antigen has been identified as the most abundant glycan, found in several different carcinoma cell lines. According to a linear biomimetic strategy, the (2,3)-sialyl-T antigen was synthesized by a stepwise glycan chain extension of a protected galactosamine-threonine precursor. For the construction of immunostimulating antigens combining both peptide and saccharide motifs, this antigen was incorporated into glycopeptide partial structures from the mucins MUC1 and MUC4 by sequential solid-phase synthesis.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Efficient ruthenium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of amines by using a biomimetic coupled catalytic system.

Efficient aerobic oxidation of amines was developed by the use of a biomimetic coupled catalytic system involving a ruthenium-induced dehydrogenation. The principle for this aerobic oxidation is that the electron transfer from the amine to molecular oxygen occurs stepwise via coupled redox systems and this leads to a low-energy electron transfer. A substrate-selective ruthenium catalyst dehydrogenates the amine and the hydrogen atoms abstracted are transported to an electron-rich quinone (2a). The hydroquinone thus formed is subsequently reoxidized by air with the aid of an oxygen-activating [Co(salen)]-type complex (27). The reaction can be used for the preparation of ketimines and aldimines in good to high yields from the appropriate corresponding amines. The reaction proceeds with high selectivity, and the catalytic system tolerates air without being deactivated. The rate of the dehydrogenation was studied by using quinone 2a as the terminal oxidant. A catalytic cycle in which the amine promotes the dissociation of the dimeric catalyst 1 is presented.

Amines↗

Regio- and diastereocontrolled preparative oxidation of methyloctalones by a biomimetic porphyrin catalyst.

Both enantiomers of methyloctalone were oxidized by a biomimetic manganese/porphyrin/imidazole catalytic system in order to obtain sufficient amounts of various model metabolites. The double bond proved to be less sensitive than the ring methylenes. Hydroxylation occurred mainly in the allylic position (position 8) and also at positions 7 and 6. In position 8, two diastereomers were obtained while in positions 7 and 6 the reaction was diastereospecific. In the case of position 8 only the oxidation yielded a keto compound. The efficiency of this method for the preparation of functionalized chiral synthons was better than it was for biological pathways.

Biomimetics↗

In vitro and in vivo degradation of biomimetic octacalcium phosphate and carbonate apatite coatings on titanium implants.

Calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coatings have been applied onto titanium alloys prosthesis to combine the srength of metals with the bioactivity of Ca-P. It has been clearly shown in many publications that Ca-P coating accelerates bone formation around the implant. However, longevity of the Ca-P coating for an optimal bone apposition onto the prosthesis remains controversial. Biomimetic bone-like carbonate apatite (BCA) and Octacalcium Phosphate (OCP) coatings were deposited on Ti6Al4V samples to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo dissolution properties. The coated plates were soaked in alpha-MEM for 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and they were analyzed by Back Scattering Electron Microscopy (BSEM) and by Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR). Identical coated plates were implanted subcutaneously in Wistar rats for similar periods. BSEM, FTIR, and histomorphometry were performed on the explants. In vitro and in vivo, a carbonate apatite (CA) formed onto OCP and BCA coatings via a dissolution-precipitation process. In vitro, both coatings dissolved overtime, whereas in vivo BCA calcified and OCP partially dissolved after 1 week. Thereafter, OCP remained stable. This different in vivo behavior can be attributed to (1) different organic compounds that might prevent or enhance Ca-P dissolution, (2) a greater reactivity of OCP due to its large open structure, or (3) different thermodynamic stability between OCP and BCA phases. These structural and compositional differences promote either the progressive loss or calcification of the Ca-P coating and might lead to different osseointegration of coated implants.

Alloys↗

Biomimetic nano-apatite coating capable of promoting bone ingrowth.

Nano-apatite coating closely mimicking bone mineral was grown directly on titanium soaked in an aqueous solution containing all major inorganic components present in the body, mainly, HCO3(-), Ca(2+), HPO4(2-), and Mg(2+) ions. The removal of HCO3(-) ions from the solution in the form of CO2 resulted in the increase of solution pH. As a consequence of this reaction, the nano-apatite coating was formed on the surface of titanium with composition and structure equivalent to those of bone mineral. The biomimetic nano-apatite was demonstrated to be capable of conducting bone formation and promoting direct bone apposition. This bioactive coating also affected the behavior of human osteoblasts as indicated by their morphologies observed in cell culture study.

Alloys↗

A low-temperature biomimetic calcium phosphate surface enhances early implant fixation in a rat model.

The present study demonstrates increased early mechanical fixation of titanium implants coated with a new biomimetic apatite surface in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received unilateral femoral medullary implants for periods of 1-4 weeks. The strength of fixation of the implant to the host bone increased more rapidly in the group receiving apatite-treated implants compared with the control group as evidenced by the apatite group's 21-fold greater fixation strength at 1 week (p = 0.009), 4-fold greater fixation strength at 2 weeks (p = 0.041), and 2-fold greater fixation strength at 4 weeks (p = 0.093) compared with the control. Fixation strength was correlated with bone-implant contact as determined from micro computed tomography assessment of the specimens (r2 = 0.338, p = 0.011 in the control group and r2 = 0.543, p < 0.001 in the apatite group). Furthermore, for a given amount of bone-implant contact, the fixation strength was higher in the apatite group than in the control group (p = 0.011), suggesting that the bone formed a stronger bond to the apatite coating than to the titanium. This difference in bonding strength accounted for the difference in mechanical behavior.

Animals↗

A hybrid coating of biomimetic apatite and osteocalcin.

A novel hybrid coating of biomimetic apatite(BAp) and osteocalcin (OC) was prepared by incubating BAp-coated Ti6A14V coupons in an osteocalcin-containing medium. A significant amount (up to 1.0 wt %) of OC was adsorbed by the BAp coating within 3 h of incubation as demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Characterizations of the hybrid coating with environmental scanning microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that protein adsorption does not alter the microstructure of the coating. The presence of OC in the hybrid coating was visualized with fluorescence microscopy using an immuno-labeling procedure. The affinity of OC to the BAp coating was examined using a 20-h elution test in phosphate-buffered saline and only a minimal amount (<10%) of the loaded OC was eluted out. When the coating was fully dissolved in hydrochloric acid solution after elution, about 78% of the loaded OC could be recovered. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and peptide sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed the integrity and activity of OC molecules throughout the tests. The preliminary cell culture tests showed a significant effect of OC on the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. The quick loading profile and high affinity of OC to the BAp coating make it an ideal candidate for the hybrid coating preparation in clinical environment.

Animals↗

Plasma-controlled nanocrystallinity and phase composition of TiO2: a smart way to enhance biomimetic response.

This contribution sheds light on the role of crystal size and phase composition in inducing biomimetic apatite growth on the surface of nanostructured titania films synthesized by reactive magnetron sputtering of Ti targets in Ar+O(2) plasmas. Unlike most existing techniques, this method enables one to deposit highly crystalline titania films with a wide range of phase composition and nanocrystal size, without any substrate heating or postannealing. Moreover, by using this dry plasma-based method one can avoid surface hydroxylation at the deposition stage, almost inevitable in wet chemical processes. Results of this work show that high phase purity and optimum crystal size appear to be the essential requirement for efficient apatite formation on magnetron plasma-fabricated bioactive titania coatings.

Apatites↗

Hierarchically biomimetic bone scaffold materials: nano-HA/collagen/PLA composite.

A bone scaffold material (nano-HA/ collagen/PLA composite) was developed by biomimetic synthesis. It shows some features of natural bone both in main composition and hierarchical microstructure. Nano-hydroxyapatite and collagen assembled into mineralized fibril. The three-dimensional porous scaffold materials mimic the microstructure of cancellous bone. Cell culture and animal model tests showed that the composite material is bioactive. The osteoblasts were separated from the neonatal rat calvaria. Osteoblasts adhered, spread, and proliferated throughout the pores of the scaffold material within a week. A 15-mm segmental defect model in the radius of the rabbit was used to evaluate the bone-remodeling ability of the composite. Combined with 0.5 mg rhBMP-2, the material block was implanted into the defect. The segmental defect was integrated 12 weeks after surgery, and the implanted composite was partially substituted by new bone tissue. This scaffold composite has promise for the clinical repair of large bony defects according to the principles of bone tissue engineering.

Animals↗

Porous scaffolds of gelatin-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites obtained by biomimetic approach: characterization and antibiotic drug release.

Gelatin-hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocomposite porous scaffolds were fabricated biomimetically, and their feasibility as a drug-delivery carrier for tissue-regeneration and wound-healing treatments was addressed. The composite sols were prepared by the precipitation of HA up to 30 wt % within a gelatin solution with the use of calcium and phosphate precursors, and the porous scaffold was obtained by casting the sols and further freeze drying. The obtained bodies were crosslinked with carbodiimide derivatives to retain chemical and thermal integrity. The apatite precipitates were observed to be a poorly crystallized carbonate-substituted HA. The nanocomposite scaffolds had porosities of approximately 89-92% and exhibited a bimodal pore distribution, that is, the macropores (approximately 300-500 microm) of the framework structure, and micropores (approximately 0.5-1 microm) formed on the framework surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation revealed the precipitation of highly elongated HA nanocrystals on the gelatin network. The well-developed porous structure and organized nanocomposite configurations were in marked contrast to the directly mixed gelatin-HA powder conventional composites. For drug-release tests, tetracycline, an antibiotic drug, was entrapped within the scaffold, and the drug-release profile was examined with processing parameters, such as HA amount in gelatin, crosslinking degree, and initial drug addition. The drug entrapment decreased with increasing HA amount, but increased with increasing crosslinking degree and initial drug addition. The crosslinking of the gelatin was the prerequisite to sustaining and controlling the drug releases. Compared to pure gelatin, the gelatin-HA nanocomposites had lower drug releases, because of their lower water uptake and degradation. All the nanocomposite scaffolds released drugs in proportion to the initial drug addition, suggesting their capacity to deliver drugs in a controlled manner. Based on the findings of the well-developed morphological feature and controlled drug-release profile, the gelatin-HA nanocomposite porous scaffolds are suggested to be potentially useful for hard-tissue regeneration.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Composite coating of bonelike apatite particles and collagen fibers on poly L-lactic acid formed through an accelerated biomimetic coprecipitation process.

Collagen and apatite were coprecipitated as a composite coating on poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) in an accelerated biomimetic process. The incubation solution contained collagen (1 g/L) and simulated body fluid with 5 times inorganic ionic concentrations as human blood plasma. The coating formed on PLLA films and scaffolds after a 24-h incubation was characterized by using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was shown that the coating contained carbonated bonelike apatite and collagen, which was similar in composition to natural bone. SEM showed a complex composite coating of submicron bonelike apatite particulates combined with collagen fibrils. It is expected that such biocomposite coating may better facilitate cell interaction and osteoconductivity. This work provided an efficient process to obtain bonelike apatite/collagen composite coating, which is potentially useful in bone tissue engineering.

Apatites↗

Gelatin-based biomimetic tissue adhesive. Potential for retinal reattachment.

An adhesive that cures under moist/wet conditions could facilitate surgical procedures for retinal reattachment. We are investigating an adhesive that mimics the factor XIIIa-mediated crosslinking of fibrin that occurs in the late stages of the blood coagulation cascade. Specifically, we use gelatin as the structural protein (in place of fibrin), and crosslink gelatin using a calcium-independent microbial transglutaminase (in place of the calcium-dependent transglutaminase factor XIIIa). Injection of gelatin and microbial transglutaminase (mTG) into the vitreous cavity of Sprague Dawley white rats did not elicit structural or cellular damage to the retina as evidenced from histological evaluation 2 weeks post-injection. Qualitative in vitro studies indicate that the gelatin-mTG adhesive binds to bovine retinal tissue under wet conditions. Quantitative lap-shear tests were performed with more robust bovine tissue from the choroid and sclera. The lap-shear strength of the biomimetic gelatin-mTG adhesive was independent of tissue-type and ranged from 15 to 45 kPa, which is comparable to the values reported for other soft-tissue adhesives. These studies suggest that the mTG-crosslinked gelatin may provide a simple, safe, and effective adhesive for ophthalmic applications.

Adhesiveness↗

Biomimetic micropatterning of silica by surface-initiated polymerization and microcontact printing.

Micropatterns of silica on a gold substrate were generated by a biomimetic approach, namely, the biosilicification of silicic acids. The procedure consists of three simple steps: pattern generation of a polymerization initiator, (BrC(CH(3))(2)COO(CH(2))(11)S)(2), by microcontact printing; surface-initiated, atom-transfer radical polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) from the patterned area; and polycondensation of silicic acids. The tertiary amine-containing polymer, pDMAEMA, aided in the spatially controlled polycondensation of silicic acids on surfaces in the presence of phosphate ions, and micropatterns of silica on a gold substrate were successfully generated in combination with the technique of microcontact printing. The procedure could be extended to the controlled fabrication of silica patterns with any size, shape, or thickness.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Silica-supported biomimetic membranes.

The hybridization of lipid membranes with inorganic silica-based framework results in mechanically stable biomembrane mimics. This account describes three types of silica-based biomimetic membranes. As the first example, a Langmuir monolayer of dialkylalkoxysilane was polymerized and immobilized onto a porous glass plate. Permeability through the monolayer-immobilized glass was regulated by phase transition of the immobilized monolayer. In the second example, spherical vesicles covalently attached to a silica cover layer (Cerasome) were prepared. The Cerasome was stable enough to be assembled into layer-by-layer films without destruction of its vesicular structure. This material could be an example of the multicellular assembly. Mesoporous silica films densely filling peptide assemblies (Proteosilica) are introduced as the third example. The Proteosilica was synthesized as a transparent film through template sol-gel reaction using amphiphilic peptides.

Biomimetic Materials↗

Design, synthesis, and screening of biomimetic ligands for affinity chromatography.

Affinity chromatography is ideally suited to the purification of pharmaceutical proteins due to its unique bio-specificity characteristics. Tailor-made affinity ligands that represent a promising class of synthetic affinity ligands have been developed to target specific proteins and designed to mimic peptidal templates, natural biological recognition motifs, or complementary surface-exposed residues. These biomimetic ligands have been generated by a combination of rational design, combinatorial library synthesis, and subsequent screening of potential leads against target proteins. Small ligands based on a triazine scaffold also present exceptional selectivity and stability, which allows their use in harsh manufacturing environments.

Biomimetics↗

Biomimetic actuators: where technology and cell biology merge.

The structural and functional analysis of biological macromolecules has reached a level of resolution that allows mechanistic interpretations of molecular action, giving rise to the view of enzymes as molecular machines. This machine analogy is not merely metaphorical, as bio-analogous molecular machines actually are being used as motors in the fields of nanotechnology and robotics. As the borderline between molecular cell biology and technology blurs, developments in the engineering and material sciences become increasingly instructive sources of models and concepts for biologists. In this review, we provide a--necessarily selective--summary of recent progress in the usage of biological and biomimetic materials as actuators in artificial environments, focussing on motors built from DNA, classical cellular motor systems (tubulin/kinesin, actin/myosin), the rotary motor F1F0-ATPase and protein-based 'smart' materials.

Actins↗

From biomimetic apatites to biologically inspired composites.

Hydroxyapatite is an elective material for bone substitution. In this outline of our recent activity the crucial role of nanostructured ceramics in the design and preparation of ceramic scaffolds will be described, focussing on our more recent interest in biomimetic apatites, in particular apatites containing HPO42- CO32- and Mg2+ which are similar to the mineral component of bone. The paper describes such nanostructured products and, in particular, innovative synthetic techniques capable of yielding powders with higher reactivity and bioactivity. However, so far the characteristics of artificial bone tissues have been shown to be very different from those of natural bone, mainly because of the absence of the peculiar self-organizing interaction between apatites and the protein component. This causes modification of the structure of apatites and of the features of the overall composite forming human bone tissue. Therefore, attempts to mimic the features and structure of natural bone tissue, leading toward so-called bio-inspired materials, will be speculated upon. New techniques used to reproduce a composite in which a nanosize blade-like crystal of hydroxyapatite (HA) grows in contact with self-assembling fibres of natural polymer will be presented. In this specific case, the amazing ability of biological systems to store and process information at the molecular level, nucleating nanosize apatites (bio-inspired material), is exploited.

Animals↗