Xiuzhi Susan Sun

Ethanol and lactic acid production as affected by sorghum genotype and location

Genotype, environment, location, and their interactions have a significant effect on end-use quality characteristics of grain sorghum (Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench ). The objective of this research was to study the effect of sorghum genotype and production environment on ethanol and lactic acid production. Eight sorghum varieties from two locations were used. Whole sorghum grain was ground, liquefied, saccharified, and fermented to ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisae , ATCC 24860). For lactic acid fermentation, whole ground sorghum grain was liquefied and fermented to lactic acid with Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395; saccharification depended upon native gluco- amylase. Results with this limited number of sorghum varieties and locations showed that both sorghum genotype and location had a significant effect on ethanol and lactic acid yields. Variations of 5 and 15% in ethanol and lactic acid yields were observed among the 16 sorghum samples. The effect of location on the fermentation yields was as much as 5% for ethanol and 10% for lactic acid. The effects of variety and location on ethanol and lactic acid production are strongly related to chemical composition and physical properties of grain sorghum samples. Ethanol and lactic acid production increased as starch content increased, whereas the ethanol and lactic acid production decreased as protein content increased. Chemical composition had a greater effect on the ethanol and lactic acid yields than physical properties of the sorghum kernels. The effect of physical properties on ethanol and lactic acid yields was not significant (P /0.05).

Creep-Recovery of Wheat Flour Doughs and Relationship to Other Physical Dough Tests and Breadmaking Performance

ABSTRACT Measurements of creep-recovery of flour-water doughs were made using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) in a compression mode with an applied probe force of 50 mN. A series of wheat flour and blend samples with various breadmaking potentials were tested at a fixed water absorption of 54% and farinograph optimum water absorption, respectively. The flour-water doughs exhibited a typical creep-recovery behavior of a noncross-linked viscoelastic material varying in some parameters with flour properties. The maximum recovery strain of doughs with a fixed water absorption of 54% was highly correlated (r = 0.939) to bread loaf volume. Wheat flours with a large bread volume exhibited greater dough recovery strain. However, there was no correlation (r = 0.122) between maximum creep strain and baking volume. The maximum recovery strain of flour-water doughs also was correlated to some of the parameters provided by mixograph, farinograph, and TA-XT2 extension.

Starch, Poly(lactic acid), and Poly(vinyl alcohol) Blends

Research on biodegradable materials has been stimulated due to concern regarding the persistence of plastic wastes. Blending starch with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most promising efforts because starch is an abundant and cheap biopolymer and PLA is biodegradable with good mechanical properties. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) contains unhydrolytic residual groups of poly(vinyl acetate) and also has good compatibility with starch. It was added to a starch and PLA blend (50:50, w/w) to enhance compatibility and improve mechanical properties. PVOH (MW 6,000) at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% (by weight) based on the total weight of starch and PLA, and 30% PVOH at various molecular weights (MW 6,000, 25,000, 78,000, and 125,000 dalton) were added to starch/PLA blends. PVOH interacted with starch. At proportions greater than 30%, PVOH form a continuous phase with starch. Tensile strength of the starch/PLA blends increased as PVOH concentration increased up to 40% and decreased as PVOH molecular weight increased. The increasing molecular weight of PVOH slightly affected water absorption, but increasing PVOH concentration to 40% or 50% increased water absorption. Effects of moisture content on the starch/PLA/PVOH blend also were explored. The blend containing gelatinized starch had higher tensile strength. However, gelatinized starch also resulted in increased water absorption.

Peptide hydrogelation and cell encapsulation for 3D culture of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture plays an invaluable role in tumor biology by providing in vivo like microenviroment and responses to therapeutic agents. Among many established 3D scaffolds, hydrogels demonstrate a distinct property as matrics for 3D cell culture. Most of the existing pre-gel solutions are limited under physiological conditions such as undesirable pH or temperature. Here, we report a peptide hydrogel that shows superior physiological properties as an in vitro matrix for 3D cell culture. The 3D matrix can be accomplished by mixing a self-assembling peptide directly with a cell culture medium without any pH or temperature adjustment. Results of dynamic rheological studies showed that this hydrogel can be delivered multiple times via pipetting without permanently destroying the hydrogel architecture, indicating the deformability and remodeling ability of the hydrogel. Human epithelial cancer cells, MCF-7, are encapsulated homogeneously in the hydrogel matrix during hydrogelation. Compared with two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture, cells residing in the hydrogel matrix grow as tumor-like clusters in 3D formation. Relevant parameters related to cell morphology, survival, proliferation, and apoptosis were analyzed using MCF-7 cells in 3D hydrogels. Interestingly, treatment of cisplatin, an anti-cancer drug, can cause a significant decrease of cell viability of MCF-7 clusters in hydrogels. The responses to cisplatin were dose- and time-dependent, indicating the potential usage of hydrogels for drug testing. Results of confocal microscopy and Western blotting showed that cells isolated from hydrogels are suitable for downstream proteomic analysis. The results provided evidence that this peptide hydrogel is a promising 3D cell culture material for drug testing.

Chemical pathways of epoxidized and hydroxylated fatty acid methyl esters and triglycerides with phosphoric acid

The polymerization pathways of epoxidized and hydroxylated triglycerides with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) were investigated using model reactions. Involved epoxides and diols were derived from oleic acid methyl ester, which was easily monitored by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques as well as electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). Phosphoric acid played two key functions: (a) as a Bronsted acid catalyst that activated the epoxide toward nucleophilic attack by the diol, thus generating ether (C–O–C) cross-linkages; and (b) as a reaction partner establishing phosphate ester linkages [(RO)2(O)P–O–C, R = C or H]. In studies with 18O labeled diol, phosphate esters formed exclusively from H3PO4 and epoxide without incorporation of diol whereas diols acted as polymerization initiators in polyether formations.

Soy proteins as plywood adhesives: formulation and characterization

Soybean proteins have great potential as bio-based adhesives. The objectives of our study were to develop and characterize formaldehyde-free soybean wood adhesives with improved water resistance. Second-order response surface regression models were used to determine the effects of soy protein isolate concentration, sodium chloride, and pH on adhesive performance. All three variables affected both dry and wet strengths of bonded wood specimens. The optimum operation zone for preparing adhesives with improved water resistance is at a protein concentration of 28% and pH 5.5. Sodium chloride had negative effects on adhesive performance. Soy adhesives modified with 0.5% sodium chloride had dry strength, wet strength, and boiling strength of bonded specimens comparable to nonmodified soy adhesives. Rheological study indicated that soy adhesives exhibited shear thinning behavior. Adhesives modified with sodium chloride showed significantly lower viscosity and yield stress. Sodium chloride-modified soy adhesives formed small aggregates and had low storage moduli, suggesting reduced protein–protein interactions. These formaldehyde-free soy adhesives showed strong potential as alternatives to commercial formaldehyde-based wood adhesives.

Design of a shear-thinning recoverable peptide hydrogel from native sequences and application for influenza H1N1 vaccine adjuvant

Peptide hydrogels are considered injectable materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Most published hydrogel-forming sequences contain either alternating-charged and non-charged residues or amphiphilic blocks. Here, we report a self-assembling peptide, h9e (FLIVIGSIIGPGGDGPGGD), designed by rationally combining two native sequences from an elastic segment of spider silk and a trans-membrane segment of human muscle L-type calcium channel. The turning segment GSII of h9e promoted hydrogel formation in both Ca2+ solution and acidic pH conditions at water content greater than 99.5%. Although h9e Ca2+ hydrogel and h9e acidic hydrogel have the same sequence, they have distinct physical properties. The shear-thinning, rapid-strength-recovering h9e Ca2+ hydrogel was used as an H1N1 influenza vaccine adjuvant. The h9e adjuvant was biologically safe and improved immune response by ∼70% compared with an oil-based commercial adjuvant.

Synthesis and Characterization of Amphiphilic Reduced Graphene Oxide with Epoxidized Methyl Oleate

Amphiphilic reduced graphene oxide is obtained by oleo-functionalization with epoxidized methyl oleate (renewable feedstock) using a green process. The excellent diverse solvent-dispersivity of the oleo-reduced amphiphilic graphene and its reduction chemistry are confirmed in this study. Oleo-reduction of amphiphilic graphene is amenable to industrially viable processes to produce future graphene-based polymer composites and systems.

Mesoporous Hybrids of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Vanadium Pentoxide for Enhanced Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries and Electrochemical Capacitors

Mesoporous hybrids of V2O5 nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been synthesized by slow hydrolysis of vanadium oxytriisopropoxide using a two-step solvothermal method followed by vacuum annealing. The hybrid material possesses a hierarchical structure with 20-30 nm V2O5 nanoparticles uniformly grown on rGO nanosheets, leading to a high surface area with mesoscale porosity. Such hybrid materials present significantly improved electronic conductivity and fast electrolyte ion diffusion, which synergistically enhance the electrical energy storage performance. Symmetrical electrochemical capacitors with two rGO-V2O5 hybrid electrodes show excellent cycling stability, good rate capability, and a high specific capacitance up to ∼466 F g(-1) (regarding the total mass of V2O5) in a neutral aqueous electrolyte (1.0 M Na2SO4). When used as the cathode in lithium-ion batteries, the rGO-V2O5 hybrid demonstrates excellent cycling stability and power capability, able to deliver a specific capacity of 295, 220, and 132 mAh g(-1) (regarding the mass of V2O5) at a rate of C/9, 1C, and 10C, respectively. The value at C/9 rate matches the full theoretical capacity of V2O5 for reversible 2 Li(+) insertion/extraction between 4.0 and 2.0 V (vs Li/Li(+)). It retains ∼83% of the discharge capacity after 150 cycles at 1C rate, with only 0.12% decrease per cycle. The enhanced performance in electrical energy storage reveals the effectiveness of rGO as the structure template and more conductive electron pathway in the hybrid material to overcome the intrinsic limits of single-phase V2O5 materials.

Peptide nanofiber hydrogel adjuvanted live virus vaccine enhances cross-protective immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is prevalent in swine farms worldwide and is a major source of economic loss and animal suffering. Rapid genetic variation of PRRSV makes it difficult for current vaccines to confer protection against newly emerging strains. We recently demonstrated that a novel peptide nanofiber hydrogel (H9e) could act as a potent adjuvant for killed H1N1 vaccines. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate H9e as an adjuvant for PRRSV modified live virus (MLV) vaccines. Pigs were vaccinated with Ingelvac PRRSV MLV with or without H9e adjuvant before being challenged with the VR-2332 (parental vaccine strain) or MN184A (genetically diverse strain) PRRSV. Pigs vaccinated with MLV+H9e had higher levels of circulating vaccine virus. More importantly, pigs vaccinated with MLV+H9e had improved protection against challenge by both PRRSV strains, as demonstrated by reduced challenge-induced viremia compared with pigs vaccinated with MLV alone. Pigs vaccinated with MLV+H9e had lower frequency of T-regulatory cells and IL-10 production but higher frequency of Th/memory cells and IFN-γ secretion than that in pigs vaccinated with MLV alone. Taken together, our studies suggest that the peptide nanofiber hydrogel H9e, when combined with the PRRSV MLV vaccine, can enhance vaccine efficacy against two different PRRSV strains by modulating both host humoral and cellular immune responses.