Physicochemical and Biological Characterisation of Diclofenac Oligomeric Poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) Hybrids as β-TCP Ceramics Modifiers for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Nowadays, regenerative medicine faces a major challenge in providing new, functional materials that will meet the characteristics desired to replenish and grow new tissue. Therefore, this study presents new ceramic-polymer composites in which the matrix consists of tricalcium phosphates covered with blends containing a chemically bounded diclofenac with the biocompatible polymer—poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate), P(3HO). Modification of P(3HO) oligomers was confirmed by NMR, IR and XPS. Moreover, obtained oligomers and their blends were subjected to an in-depth characterisation using GPC, TGA, DSC and AFM. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the hydrophobicity and surface free energy values of blends decreased with the amount of diclofenac modified oligomers. Subsequently, the designed composites were used as a substrate for growth of the pre-osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1). An in vitro biocompatibility study showed that the composite with the lowest concentration of the proposed drug is within the range assumed to be non-toxic (viability above 70%). Cell proliferation was visualised using the SEM method, whereas the observation of cell penetration into the scaffold was carried out by confocal microscopy. Thus, it can be an ideal new functional bone tissue substitute, allowing not only the regeneration and restoration of the defect but also inhibiting the development of chronic inflammation.     

The effect of substrate on the composition of polyhydroxyalkanoates in enhanced biological phosphorus removal

This paper primarily evaluates the effect of external substrate type on the composition of polyhydroxyalkanoates in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). Two sets of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) are operated for this purpose, one with acetate and the other with propionate as the sole carbon source at different influent COD/phosphate ratios in the range 6.7–20 mgCOD mg^?1P. Results indicate that propionate is a more efficient substrate for EBPR, enabling total phosphate removal regardless of the change in COD/phosphate ratio. Total polyhydroxyalkanoates formation of 267–291 mgCOD L^?1 with a slight increase at higher influent phosphorus levels is observed for acetate experiments, and a slightly lower level of 250–280 mgCOD L^?1, with a similar trend for propionate experiments. The volatile fatty acid type and composition in the influent induces a significant difference in the polyhydroxyalkanoates composition of the two sets of activated sludge sustained in corresponding SBR systems. Propionate is mostly stored as 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methylvalerate and polyhydroxyvalerate, while acetate is stored as polyhydroxybutyrate. The P uptake rate in SBRs fed with propionate is considerably higher than that in the acetate reactors. Parallel batch experiments yield different results, especially for systems fed with acetate, indicating that the enzymatic system to metabolize propionate is not rapidly established, always yielding a dominant polyhydroxybutyrate fraction in the generated polyhydroxyalkanoates regardless of the level of propionate in the feed. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates: the future green materials of choice

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have recently been the focus of attention as a biodegradable and biocompatible substitute for conventional non degradable plastics. The cost of large‐scale production of these polymers has inhibited its widespread use. Thus, economical, large‐scale production of PHAs is currently being studied intensively. Various bacterial strains, either wild‐type or recombinant have been utilized with a wide spectrum of utilizable carbon sources. New fermentation strategies have been developed for the efficient production of PHAs at high concentration and productivity. With the current advances, PHAs can now be produced to a concentration of 80 g L^?1 with productivities greater than 4 g PHA L^?1 h^?1. These advances will further lower the production cost of PHAs and allow this family of polymers to become a leading biodegradable polymer in the near future. This review describes the properties of PHAs, their uses, the various attempts towards the production of PHAs, focusing on the utilization of cheap substrates and the development of different fermentation strategies for the production of these polymers, an essential step forward towards their widespread use. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Extraction of lipid-grown bacterial cells by supercritical fluid and organic solvent to obtain pure medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates

A simple two-step process was developed to extract and purify medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHA) from bacterial cells (Pseudomonas resinovorans) grown on lard and tallow. The process consists of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the lyophilized cells with carbon dioxide to remove lipid impurities, followed by chloroform extraction of the cells to recover the MCL-PHA. SFE conditions were varied as to temperature (40–100°C), pressure (2000–9000 psi), and carbon dioxide flow rate (0.5–1.5 L/min, expanded gas). Lipid material, usually 2–4%, but in some cases as high as 11%, was extracted from the dried cells by SFE. A pressure range (5000–9000 psi, increased stepwise), a temperature of 60°C, and a carbon dioxide flow of 1.5 L/min were routinely used to extract the bacterial cells (4–5 g) after 3 h. Higher flow rates could shorten the extraction time even more. SFE did not extract MCL-PHA from the cells. Yield of MCL-PHA after chloroform extraction at room temperature was a maximum of 42.4% based on dry cell weight. The results show that the two-step process saves time, uses much less organic solvent, and produces a purer MCL-PHA biopolymer than previous extraction and purification methods. A more environmentally friendly clean-up procedure based on SFE and organic solvent recovery was developed to remove contaminating lipid materials from the fermentation biomass, allowing for the recovery of higher purity MCL-PHA that are suitable for more demanding applications.     

Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Nonnatural Polyesters

Microorganisms produce diverse polymers for various purposes such as storing genetic information, energy, and reducing power, and serving as structural materials and scaffolds. Among these polymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are microbial polyesters synthesized and accumulated intracellularly as a storage material of carbon, energy, and reducing power under unfavorable growth conditions in the presence of excess carbon source. PHAs have attracted considerable attention for their wide range of applications in industrial and medical fields. Since the first discovery of PHA accumulating bacteria about 100 years ago, remarkable advances have been made in the understanding of PHA biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of microorganisms toward developing efficient PHA producers. Recently, nonnatural polyesters have also been synthesized by metabolically engineered microorganisms, which opened a new avenue toward sustainable production of more diverse plastics. Herein, the current state of PHAs and nonnatural polyesters is reviewed, covering mechanisms of microbial polyester biosynthesis, metabolic pathways, and enzymes involved in biosynthesis of short-chain-length PHAs, medium-chain-length PHAs, and nonnatural polyesters, especially 2-hydroxyacid-containing polyesters, metabolic engineering strategies to produce novel polymers and enhance production capabilities and fermentation, and downstream processing strategies for cost-effective production of these microbial polyesters. In addition, the applications of PHAs and prospects are discussed.     

真氧产碱杆菌利用短链有机酸合成聚羟基烷酸酯

研究了真氧产碱杆菌利用单一以及混合短链有机酸作为碳源进行聚羟基烷酸酯(PHAs)的生物合成. 不同的碳氮浓度比对产物的形成有较大影响；在同样的碳源浓度下，较低氮源浓度更加有利于产物的合成；当短链有机酸浓度为8 g/L、硫酸铵浓度为0.3 g/L时对PHAs的合成最为有利.在4种短链有机酸分别单独用作碳源时，乳酸的消耗速度最快，其次为乙酸、丁酸以及丙酸；在单酸发酵条件下，丁酸的PHAs产量最高(2.72 g/L). 通过比较摇瓶以及5 L罐水平的混合酸发酵发现，发酵罐中的各项发酵指标均优于摇瓶. 研究还发现，真氧产碱杆菌在利用丙酸为碳源进行产物合成时，在发酵后期还伴随有乙酸产生.     

新型生物材料多聚羟基烷酸的开发与应用

综述了新型生物材料多聚羟基烷酸开发研究的历史与现状，重点介绍了多聚羟基烷酸生产和应用中取得的成果与存在的问题，并展望了这一新材料的发展趋势与应用前景。     

新型环境友好型热塑材料聚羟基烷酸的研究进展

在对聚羟基烷酸（PHAs）的结构和性质介绍的基础上，从实际工业应用的角度综述了国内外近年有关它的生物合成、提取及应用中取得的成果与存在的问题，展望了这一新材料的发展趋势与应用前景。     

废水生物处理过程对微生物胞内PHA的影响

微生物合成的聚－β－羟基烷酸酯作为一种生物可降解高分子,不仅具有广阔的应用前景,而且在废水生物处理领域具有很高的研究价值。本文首先对微生物利用废水合成ＰＨＡ的代谢机理作了分析,然后分别介绍了与ＰＨＡ有关的两种不同的废水生物处理工艺及其关键影响因素,并对国内外在此领域的研究进展作了论述。