Molecularly imprinted macroporous polymer monolithic layers for L-phenylalanine recognition in complex biological fluids

In present work, the development of macroporous monolithic layers bearing the artificial recognition sites toward L-phenylalanine has been carried out. The set of macroporous poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) materials with average pore size ranged in 340–1200 nm was synthesized. The applicability of Hildebrand's and Hansen's theories for the prediction of polymer compatibility with porogenic solvents was evaluated. The dependences of average pore size on theoretically calculated parameters were plotted. The linear trend detected for Hansen's theory has indicated the high suitability of this approach to select appropriate porogens. The synthesized monolithic MIP layers were tested toward the ability to rebind phenylalanine-derivative in microarray format. The influence of such factors as average pore size of the material, the concentration of template molecule in polymerization mixture, interaction time of analyte with its imprinted sites on binding efficiency were studied. The developed materials demonstrated good analyte rebinding from buffer solution with recognition factors 2.5–3.4 depending on the MIP sample. The comparable rebinding efficiency was also detected when the analysis was carried using complex biological media. The selectivity of phenylalanine binding from the equimolar mixture of structural analogues was 81.9% for free amino acid and 91.2% for labeled one.     

Effects of argon sintering atmosphere on luminescence characteristics of Ca6BaP4O17:Sm3+ phosphors

In this paper, Ca₆BaP₄O₁₇:Sm³⁺ and Li⁺ co-doped Ca₆BaP₄O₁₇:Sm³⁺ phosphors were synthesized in air and argon atmospheres using a solid-state reaction method. The phosphor morphologies and crystal structure were studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The emission and absorption characteristics were investigated using photoluminescence emission spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The surface states and composition of phosphor were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The emission integrated intensities of the phosphors sintered in an argon atmosphere increased 3.5 fold than the ones sintered in air atmosphere, with Li⁺ ions becoming embedded in the lattice of the Ca₆BaP₄O₁₇:Sm³⁺ phosphor. This occurs because there are fewer defect/oxygen vacancies and less of the secondary phase forms, leading to better Sm³⁺ emission. The results suggest that sintering a mixture of the raw materials of a phosphor in an argon atmosphere is a good approach for synthesizing Ca₆BaP₄O₁₇:Sm³⁺ phosphor powders. The color purity and CIE values of an optimized phosphor sample sintered in an argon atmosphere with an Li⁺ ion compensator were calculated to be ~ 99.6% and (0.612,0.386) in the orange–red region under 405-nm excitation, respectively. Moreover, the solid solubility of Sm³⁺ ions in the Ca₆BaP₄O₁₇ host can be enhanced by using an argon atmosphere in the synthesis process.     

Physicochemical Properties of Zwitterionic Drugs in Therapy

In solution, amphoteric compounds exist in anionic, uncharged, zwitterionic and cationic forms. The importance of zwitterionic drugs is currently under-represented in the literature. Herein, the acid-base parameters, lipophilicity and solubility of such compounds are discussed to deepen the molecular-level understanding of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behaviour. Our recent studies show there are many drug molecules, including thyroid hormones and 5-hydroxytryptophan, the precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, for which the contribution of the zwitterionic microspecies to the overall lipophilicity exceeds that of the uncharged one, which is of higher individual lipophilicity, but occurs in much lower concentration. The second part of the minireview highlights the most important zwitterionic compounds in therapy, grouped into therapeutic classes. The importance of the charge of the molecules is emphasized in their binding to the target molecules.     

Extruded meat alternatives made from Maillard-reacted beef bone hydrolysate and plant proteins: part I – Effect of moisture content

This study investigated the effects of moisture content (MC) on the physicochemical properties of extruded meat alternatives made from Maillard-reacted beef bone hydrolysate and plant proteins. Samples were extruded at 170 °C (maximum barrel temperature), at 3.6 kg h⁻¹ (liquid feed rate) and at 1.8, 2.2, 2.6 and 3.0 kg h⁻¹ (dry feed rates) to obtain MC of 60%MC, 56%MC, 52%MC and 49%MC, respectively. Meat alternatives at 52%MC showed the greatest degree of texturisation. However, meat alternatives at 49%MC were the closest in terms of both textural and microstructural properties to reference sample, boiled chicken breast. Results from protein solubility suggested that a large amount of aggregated proteins were associated with hydrogen bonds, while disulphide bonds were the main contributor in the formation of fibrous structure in meat alternatives. Results showed that the change in MC as process parameter played an important role in the formation of fibrous structure in extruded meat alternatives.     

On the prediction of solubility of alkane in carbon dioxide using the LSSVM algorithm

The increasing global energy demand and declination of oil reservoir in recent years cause the researchers attention focus on the enhancement of oil recovery approaches. One of the extensive applicable methods for enhancement of oil recovery, which has great efficiency and environmental benefits, is carbon dioxide injection. The CO₂ injection has various effects on the reservoir fluid, which causes enhancement of recovery. One of these effects is extraction of lighter components of crude oil, which straightly depends on solubility of hydrocarbons in carbon dioxide. In order to better understand of this parameter, in this study, Least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) algorithm was developed as a novel predictive tool to estimate solubility of alkane in CO₂ as function of carbon number of alkane, carbon dioxide density, pressure, and temperature. The predicting model outputs were compared with the extracted experimental solubility from literature statistically and graphically. The comparison showed the great ability and high accuracy of developed model in prediction of solubility.     

Preparative Protein Crystallization

Preparative protein crystallization can possibly replace one or more chromatographic steps in downstream processing. The development of such crystallization processes is demanding: first, promising principal crystallization conditions must be identified; second, details about the process must be defined; and third, the crystals have to be separated from the mother liquor without putting harm of their crystalline integrity. State‐of‐the‐art about these three steps is developing fast by (i) employing new screening methods which are based on fundamental understanding of the interaction of the protein molecules, (ii) application of existing concepts of technical bulk crystallization of small molecules to preparative protein crystallization, and (iii) making available specific gentle separation machinery.     

中性条件下大米蛋白的酶法增溶工艺研究

为改善大米蛋白(RP)溶解性,对中性条件下RP酶法增溶工艺进行研究。在对中性蛋白酶、碱性蛋白酶、酸性蛋白酶、菠萝蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶5种酶单因素实验基础上,研究RP的复合酶解。结果表明:单酶水解以中性蛋白酶效果最好,在底物质量分数20%、酶用量1%、酶解温度50℃、酶解时间4 h条件下,所得速溶大米蛋白(IRP)溶解度为79. 01%,水解度为6. 79%。复合酶解以中性蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶复配效果最好。综合考虑溶解度、水解度和功能性质等要求,RP适宜的酶解条件为:底物质量分数20%,中性蛋白酶和木瓜蛋白酶复合酶解,酶用量各0. 5%,酶解温度50℃,酶解时间4 h。复合酶解所得IRP具有较好的溶解度(63. 58%)、乳化活性(27. 60 m~2/g)和乳化稳定性(29. 61 min),在pH 5～8范围内具有良好的溶解性(溶解度54. 39%～68. 34%)。此外,IRP中游离氨基酸和肽含量显著增加,其营养价值明显改善,更易于消化吸收。研究表明,复合酶解是RP增溶改性的有效途径,所得IRP的溶解性、乳化性均有明显改善。     

Nutritional and functional characterisation of hydrolysates from quinoa flour (Chenopodium quinoa) using two proteases

The objective was to study the nutritional and functional properties of hydrolysates from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of defatted quinoa flour (DQF). The commercial enzymes alcalase and flavourzyme were used to obtain the hydrolysates defatted quinoa flour hydrolysate with alcalase (DQFA) and defatted quinoa flour hydrolysate with flavourzyme (DQFF), respectively, after 3 h of digestion at 50°C and pH 8. The degree of hydrolysis (47.32%), yield (31.05%) and protein recovery (88.80%) values were higher in DQFA; however, its protein content (48.34%) was lower compared to that of DQFF (55.06%). Also, DQFA had a solubility greater than 57% over a wide pH range (2–10) and good foam stability (70–90%). On the other hand, DQFF presented adequate emulsifying activity (61.30 m²/g), emulsifying stability (158.62 min) and foaming capacity (131%). Due to the high content of macro- and micronutrients and adequate emulsifying and foaming properties, DQFA and DQFF could be used as ingredients in various processed food products and protein supplements.     

Thermodynamic modeling of gas solubility in aqueous sodium chloride solution

An electrolyte Equation of State is presented by combining the Cubic Plus Association Equation of State,Mean Spherical Approximation and the Born equation.This new model uses experimental relative static permittivity,intend to predict well the activity coefficients of individual ions (ACI) and liquid densities of aqueous solutions.This new model is applied to model water + NaCl binary system and water + gas +NaCl ternary systems.The cation/anion-water interaction parameters of are obtained by fitting the exper-imental data of ACI,mean ionic activity coefficients (MIAC) and liquid densities of water + NaCl binary system.The cation/anion-gas interaction parameters are obtained by fitting the experimental data of gas solubilities in aqueous NaCl solutions.The modeling results show that this new model can correlate well with the phase equilibrium and volumetric properties.Without gas,predictions for ACI,MIAC,and liquid densities present relative average deviations of 1.3％,3.6％ and 1.4％ compared to experimental ref-erence values.For most gas-containing systems,predictions for gas solubilities present relative average deviations lower than 7.0％.Further,the contributions of ACI,and salting effects of NaCl on gases are ana-lyzed and discussed.