Virgilio González-González

Encapsulation and immobilization of papain in electrospun nanofibrous membranes of PVA cross-linked with glutaraldehyde vapor.

In this paper, papain enzyme (E.C. 3.4.22.2, 1.6 U/mg) was successfully immobilized in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers prepared by electrospinning. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the diameter distribution was in the range of 80 to 170 nm. The presence of the enzyme within the PVA nanofibers was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analyses. The maximum catalytic activity was reached when the enzyme loading was 13%. The immobilization of papain in the nanofiber membrane was achieved by chemical crosslinking with a glutaraldehyde vapor treatment (GAvt). The catalytic activity of the immobilized papain was 88% with respect to the free enzyme. The crosslinking time by GAvt to immobilize the enzyme onto the nanofiber mat was 24h, and the enzyme retained its catalytic activity after six cycles. The crosslinked samples maintained 40% of their initial activity after being stored for 14 days. PVA electrospun nanofibers are excellent matrices for the immobilization of enzymes due to their high surface area and their nanoporous structure.

Totally Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Aqueous Dissolutions of Polysaccharides

In this contribution, a totally ecofriendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous dissolution of polysaccharides is reported. The synthesis of nanoparticles was performed using aqueous dissolutions of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) as both reducing and stabilization agent and using different AgNO3 : CMC weight ratios. Resultant yellowish to reddish dispersions were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy and their related techniques, such as bright field and Z-contrast imaging and electron diffraction, as well as ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopic techniques. The experimental evidence suggests that the morphology and particle size distribution of the silver nanoparticles depend on the AgNO3 : CMC weight ratio. This feature seems to be related to the stabilization given by the CMC matrix, which, according to our experimental findings, is steric in nature. Regarding such experimental evidence, a synthesis mechanism in which CMC acts as stabilizer and reducing agent is proposed.

Silver/polysaccharide-based nanofibrous materials synthesized from green chemistry approach.

In this contribution a novel green chemistry approach for the synthesis of nanofibrous materials based on blends of carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC)-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) composite and polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) is proposed. These nanofibrous materials were obtained from the electrospinning of blends of aqueous solutions of CMC-AgNPs composite and PVA, which were prepared at different CMC/PVA weight ratios in order to electrospin nanofibers applying a constant tension of 15kV. The synthesized materials were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy; as well as Fourier-transform infrared, ultraviolet and Raman spectroscopic techniques. Experimental evidence suggests that the diameter of the nanofibers is thinner than any other reported in the literature regarding the electrospinning of CMC. This feature is related to the interactions of AgNPs with carboxyl functional groups of the CMC, which diminish those between the later and acetyl groups of PVA.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Obtained from a Fe(II) - Chitosan Polymer Film

In this work, iron oxide nanoparticles (~5 nm) embedded in a chitosan polymer film, were synthesized. In order to obtain this nanostructured material, firstly a homogenous film of Fe(II)-chitosan was prepared. The resulting composite film has a thickness of ~140μm. Iron oxide nanoparticles were in-situ synthesized by treating the composite film with H2O2 under alkaline conditions. The morphological analysis by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) shows the nanoparticles were embedded and stabilized in chitosan polymer film. The magnetic behavior was studied by magnetization measurements. The magnetization curves at room temperature showed that iron oxide nanoparticles have a superparamagnetic behavior.