Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Abbreviation

Int. j. biol. macromol.

Publisher

Elsevier

Journal Volumes

ISSN

0141-8130
1879-0003

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Publications 1 - 10 of 13
  • Surface modification of polydimethylsiloxane by the cataractous eye protein isolate
    Item type: Journal Article
    Parveen, Sultana; Basu, Mainak; Chowdhury, Prasun; et al. (2024)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), even though widely used in microfluidic applications, its hydrophobic nature restricts its utility in some cases. To address this, PDMS may be used in conjunction with a hydrophilic material. Herein, the PDMS surface is modified by plasma treatment followed by cross-linking with the cataractous eye protein isolate (CEPI). CEPI-PDMS composites are prepared at three pH and the effects of CEPI on the chemical, physical, and electrical properties of PDMS are extensively investigated. The cross-linking between PDMS and the protein are confirmed by FTIR, and the contact angle measurements indicate the improved hydrophilic nature of the composite films as compared to PDMS. Atomic Force Microscopy results demonstrate that the surface roughness is enhanced by the incorporation of the protein and is a function of the pH. The effective elastic modulus of the composites is improved by the incorporation of protein into the PDMS matrix. Measurements of the dielectric properties of these composites indicate that they behave as capacitors at lower frequency range while demonstrating resistive characteristics at higher frequency. These composites provide preliminary ideas in developing flexible devices for potential applications in diverse areas such as energy storage materials, and thermo-elective wireless switching devices.
  • Nanocomposites of cellulose nanofibers incorporated with carvacrol via stabilizing octenyl succinic anhydride-modified ɛ-polylysine
    Item type: Journal Article
    Amoroso, Luana; De France, Kevin J.; Kummer, Nico; et al. (2023)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    Food packaging plays an extremely important role in the global food chain, allowing for products to be shipped across long distances without spoiling. However, there is an increased need to both reduce plastic waste caused by traditional single-use plastic packaging and improve the overall functionality of packaging materials to extend shelf-life even further. Herein, we investigate composite mixtures based on cellulose nanofibers and carvacrol via stabilizing octenyl-succinic anhydride-modified epsilon polylysine (MɛPL-CNF) for active food packaging applications. The effects of epsilon polylysine (εPL) concentration and modification with octenyl-succinic anhydride (OSA) and carvacrol are evaluated with respect to composites morphology, mechanical, optical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. We find that both increased εPL concentration and modification with OSA and carvacrol lead to films with increased antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, albeit at the expense of reduced mechanical performance. Importantly, when sprayed onto the surface of sliced apples, MεPL-CNF-mixtures are able to successfully delay/hinder enzymatic browning, suggesting the potential of such materials for a range of active food packaging applications.
  • Polylactic acid green gels for fabrication of porous scaffolds
    Item type: Journal Article
    Wang, Wuchao; Rossi, René Michel; Wei, Kongchang (2025)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    Polylactic acid (PLA) has been approved for various medical devices and continues to attract significant interest in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, implants, and tissue engineering. As a thermoplastic polymer, PLA is typically processed either above its melting temperature or in solution. Herein, we developed a series of green solvent-based PLA organogels (termed PLA green gels), which enabled gel-based PLA processing. We investigated 20 bio-based green solvents for PLA dissolution through solubility parameter-based screening and experimental testing. Four bio-based solvents with low toxicity and high boiling points, namely ethyl lactate (EL), gamma-valerolactone (GVL), dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene™), and dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), were identified as promising candidates for the preparation of PLA green gels. Sol-gel transition, rheological and structural properties of the PLA green gels were thoroughly characterized. Subsequently, porous PLA scaffolds were fabricated from such PLA green gels via injection molding and solvent exchange. Our results have demonstrated the potential of green gel-based PLA manufacturing. More importantly, two distinct solvent-dependent gelation mechanisms were revealed for future PLA biomaterial development: phase separation-induced rapid gelation (in EL and GVL), which resulted in stiff and brittle scaffolds, and crystallization-induced slow gelation (in Cyrene™ and DMI), which produced soft and compliant scaffolds.
  • Biosynthesis of poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) in recombinant Escherichia coli grown on glycerol is stimulated by propionic acid
    Item type: Journal Article
    Kampf, Michael M.; Thony-Meyer, Linda; Ren, Qun (2014)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
  • Comparative transcriptomic and co-expression network analysis identifies key gene modules involved in heat stress responses in goats
    Item type: Journal Article
    Dige, Mahesh Shivanand; Gurao, Ankita; Mehrotra, Arnav; et al. (2025)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    Heat stress significantly affects livestock production, particularly in tropical regions where temperatures often exceed animals' comfort zones. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of heat stress tolerance in Jamunapari goats (Capra hircus) through transcriptomic analysis, gene co-expression network construction, and hub gene identification. Female goats (1–2 years old) were monitored during high Thermal Humidity Index (THI) in June and normal THI in March. Based on heat tolerance and physiological parameters, goats were classified into Thermo-Neutral (TNG) and Heat-Stress (EHSG) groups. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 133 upregulated genes and 501 downregulated genes in the EHSG group. Upregulated pathways included NF-kappa B signaling, MAPK signaling, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, while downregulated genes were linked to IL-17 signaling and platelet activation. Notably, the small heat shock proteins (CRYAB) and aquaporins (AQP11) were significantly downregulated. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified key gene modules associated with Iberia Heat Tolerance Coefficient and respiration rate. Hub genes such as TUFM, TOMM40, BCSL1, VCL, VASP, ITGB, and VWF were critical for adaptation to heat stress. These findings enhance our understanding of heat stress resilience, offering potential targets for breeding programs aimed at improving livestock tolerance to heat stress in tropical environments.
  • Crystal structure of amylose complexes with small ligands
    Item type: Journal Article
    Nuessli, Jeannette; Putaux, Jean Luc; Bail, Patricia Le; et al. (2003)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
  • Possible tetramerisation of the proteasome maturation factor POMP/proteassemblin/hUmp1 and its subcellular localisation
    Item type: Conference Paper
    Hoefer, Melanie M.; Boneberg, Eva-Maria; Grotegut, Stefan; et al. (2006)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
  • The effect of molecular weight on the material properties of biosynthesized poly(4-hydroxybutyrate)
    Item type: Journal Article
    Boesel, L.F.; Le Meur, S.; Thony-Meyer, L.; et al. (2014)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
  • Developmental stage-specific proteome analysis of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata provides insights on relevant proteins
    Item type: Journal Article
    Chatterjee, Madhurima; Roschitzki, Bernd; Grossmann, Jonas; et al. (2024)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    The spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a destructive insect pest that inflicts significant productivity losses on important leguminous crops. Unravelling insect proteomes is vital to comprehend their fundamental molecular mechanisms. This research delved into the proteome profiles of four distinct stages -three larval and pupa of M. vitrata, utilizing LC-MS/MS label-free quantification-based methods. Employing comprehensive proteome analysis with fractionated datasets, we mapped 75 % of 3459 Drosophila protein orthologues out of which 2695 were identified across all developmental stages while, 137 and 94 were exclusive to larval and pupal stages respectively. Cluster analysis of 2248 protein orthologues derived from MaxQuant quantitative dataset depicted six clusters based on expression pattern similarity across stages. Consequently, gene ontology and protein-protein interaction network analyses using STRING database identified cluster 1 (58 proteins) and cluster 6 (25 proteins) associated with insect immune system and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, qRT-PCR-based expression analyses of ten selected proteins-coding genes authenticated the proteome data. Subsequently, functional validation of these chosen genes through gene silencing reduced their transcript abundance accompanied by a marked increase in mortality among dsRNA-injected larvae. Overall, this is a pioneering study to effectively develop a proteome atlas of M. vitrata as a potential resource for crop protection programs.
  • A review of starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend film: A potential replacement for traditional plastic-based food packaging film
    Item type: Review Article
    Deng, Hao; Su, Jiaqi; Zhang, Wanli; et al. (2024)
    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
    In recent years, the development of environmentally friendly packaging materials using biodegradable polymers has emerged as a key challenge for scientists and consumers in response to resource depletion and environmental issues caused by plastic packaging materials. Starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are being recognized as excellent candidates for producing biodegradable food packaging films. Polymer blending has emerged as a practical approach to overcome the limitations of biopolymer films by developing films with unique properties and enhancing overall performance. This review briefly introduces the molecular structure and properties of starch and PVA, summarizes the common preparation methods and properties of starch/PVA blend films, and focuses on different strategies used to enhance starch/PVA blend films, including nanoparticles, plant extracts, and cross-linking agents. Additionally, this study summarizes the application of starch/PVA blend films as active and smart packaging in food preservation systems. This study demonstrates that starch and PVA blends have potential in manufacturing biodegradable food films with excellent properties due to their excellent compatibility and intermolecular interactions, and can be used as packaging films for a variety of foods to extend their shelf life.
Publications 1 - 10 of 13