Roberto Solaro

Biodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) based materials

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is recognized as one of the very few vinyl polymers soluble in water also susceptible of ultimate biodegradation in the presence of suitably acclimated microorganisms. Accordingly, increasing attention is devoted to the preparation of environmentally compatible PVA-based materials for a wide range of applications. The present article is aimed at providing a survey of the available information on the environmental fate of PVA and PVA-based materials. Literature data and recent advances on the biochemistry and microbial physiology of PVA biodegradation and on the influence of environmental conditions are discussed along with the biodegradation processes of other water-soluble materials. The biodegradation behaviors of several PVA-based materials including blends, composites and copolymers are also reviewed and discussed.

Biodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) based blown films under different environmental conditions

The biodegradability of water soluble poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) blown films was investigated under different environmental and test conditions. In particular respirometric determinations were utilized in order to evaluate the biodegradability of polymer films in composting, soil burial and aquatic degradation tests. Several microbial inocula derived from mature compost, forest and loamy soils as well as sewage sludges from municipal and paper mill waste-water treatments plants were matched with the PVA-based blown films. A fairly active PVA-degrading bacterial mixed culture was obtained by starting from sewage sludge of a paper mill as inoculum. Limited rates and extents of mineralization were recorded in solid cultures in the presence of either soil or compost samples, whereas significant biodegradation level within fairly short incubation time were obtained in liquid cultures in the presence of acclimated microbial populations. Experimental difficulties encountered in trials aimed at isolating single degrading microbial species definitely indicated the existence of strong symbiotic or commensal interactions between the single components of the PVA-degrading mixed culture. A PVA degradation mechanism different from random scission or unzipping of carbon backbone has been suggested on the basis of viscometric behavior of PVA solution in the presence of mixed culture and its filtrate.

Biodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) with different molecular weights and degree of hydrolysis

The biodegradability of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was investigated under different conditions by respirometric determinations, iodometric analysis, and molecular weight evaluation. Microbial inocula derived from the sewage sludge of municipal and paper mill wastewater treatment plants were used. A rather active PVA-degrading bacterial mixed culture was obtained from the paper mill sewage sludge. Significant biodegradation levels within quite short incubation times were obtained in liquid cultures in the presence of acclimated microbial populations. The influence of some polymer properties such as molecular weight and degree of hydrolysis on the biodegradation rate and extent was investigated in the presence of either the acclimated mixed bacterial culture or its sterile filtrate. Kinetic data relevant to PVA mineralization and to the variation of PVA concentration, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution revealed a moderate effect of the degree of hydrolysis. The molecular weight appeared to be not a limiting factor of microbial attack. Comparison of the degradation process in the presence of either bacterial cells or their culture filtrate highlighted the ability of some microbial strains to utilize polymer chains having 5–10 kD molecular weight. This result suggests the occurrence of two PVA degradation mechanisms: a random-type attack and a terminal unzipping depolymerization process of polymer chains. Copyright

Targeted Delivery of Protein Drugs by Nanocarriers

Recent advances in biotechnology demonstrate that peptides and proteins are the basis of a new generation of drugs. However, the transportation of protein drugs in the body is limited by their high molecular weight, which prevents the crossing of tissue barriers, and by their short lifetime due to immuno response and enzymatic degradation. Moreover, the ability to selectively deliver drugs to target organs, tissues or cells is a major challenge in the treatment of several human diseases, including cancer. Indeed, targeted delivery can be much more efficient than systemic application, while improving bioavailability and limiting undesirable side effects. This review describes how the use of targeted nanocarriers such as nanoparticles and liposomes can improve the pharmacokinetic properties of protein drugs, thus increasing their safety and maximizing the therapeutic effect.

Biodegradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) in selected mixed microbial culture and relevant culture filtrate

The dependence of PVA biodegradation on polymer molecular weight, degree of hydrolysis, and content of head-to-head structural units was investigated in the presence of a PVA-degrading microbial population and of the relevant culture supernatant. Respirometric tests carried out in the presence of the selected microbial population evidenced a limited but significant delay in the mineralization profile depending upon the degree of PVA hydrolysis, whereas no remarkable effect by molecular weight was detected. Five bacterial strains were isolated from the PVA-degrading microbial population, but only the degradation of low molecular weight fractions was recorded in cultures inoculated with single bacterial strains. The exclusive attack of low molecular weight fractions is in accordance with the occurrence of an additional degradation mechanism different from that generally proposed for PVA biodegradation. Experiments carried out in the presence of the culture supernatant clearly demonstrated the presence of a PVA degrading enzymatic system in the solution. Kinetic studies carried out under the reported conditions suggested the occurrence of a random cleavage of PVA chains. No influence of both molecular weight and content of head-to-head structural units on the enzymatic degradation process was observed. Enzymatic assays excluded the presence of extracellular esterases in the culture supernatant but confirmed the presence of oxidases.

Synthesis, chiroptical properties and photoresponsive behaviour of optically active poly[(S)-4-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)azobenzene]

Abstract A novel optically active monomer containing a photochromic chromophore, such as trans-(S)-4-(2-methacryloyloxypropanoyloxy)azobenzene and its low molecular weight model compound trans-(S)-4-(2-pivaloyloxypropanoyloxy)azobenzene were prepared. Free radically initiated homopolymerization of the methacrylic monomer afforded in fairly high yield a rather high molecular weight polymer which was molecularly and structurally characterized. The molecular mobility of the polymer in all trans configuration, as well as chiroptical properties, photoisomerization kinetics and photochromic behaviour were investigated and compared with those of the low and high molecular weight related compounds. The polymer photoresponsive properties were evaluated by circular dichroism measurements at various extents of photoisomerization. All the results are discussed in terms of structural requirements of the macromolecules.

A new respirometric test simulating soil burial conditions for the evaluation of polymer biodegradation

A new convenient and reliable method is described for assessing the biodegradation properties of polymeric materials under simulated soil burial conditions, which makes it possible to test with nutrient-rich soils. This method consists of the utilization of a minimum amount of a soil layer, in which the samples to be tested are set in close contact, sandwiched between two layers of perlite, a natural porous aluminosilicate. The biodegradation level is monitored by determining the carbon dioxide evolution derived from the test samples. The limited amount of soil used limits carbon dioxide evolution from the blanks, due to the corresponding limited overall amount of soil carbon. This experimental setup allows for an extremely satisfactory level of confidence in the analytical results, permitting a wider variety of soil types to be tested.

Biodegradation of nonionic surfactants. I. Biotransformation of 4-(1-nonyl)phenol by a Candida maltosa isolate

Results are reported concerning biodegradation of 4-(1-nonyl)phenol by cultures of a Candida maltosa strain isolated from aerobic sludge samples collected at a depuration plant treating wastewaters from a textile industry. The yeast was able to utilize 4-(1-nonyl)phenol as a sole carbon and energy source. Preliminary attempts to draw the actual metabolic pathway evidenced microbial attack on the alkyl chain with the production of 4-acetylphenol. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report describing a microorganism capable of attacking nonylphenol in axenic culture and at the same time allowing for the identification of its degradation products.

Light-induced conformational changes in chiral polymers with photochromic side chains

Preparation de polymeres optiquement actifs avec un squelette hydrocarbure et peptide portant des groupes photoisomerisables azobenzene et stilbene dans les chaines laterales par copolymerisation et par modification chimique de polymeres preformes. Etude du comportement photochrome et de la conformation en solution par absorption UV, fluorescence et dichroisme circulaire

Fibrin acts as biomimetic niche inducing both differentiation and stem cell marker expression of early human endothelial progenitor cells

Objectives:  Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is a promising approach for revascularization of tissue. We have used a natural and biocompatible biopolymer, fibrin, to induce cell population growth, differentiation and functional activity of EPCs.