Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Dali Wei, Mingwei Li, Fengxiang Ai, Kun Wang, Nuanfei Zhu, Ying Wang, Daqiang Yin, Zhen Zhang
Summary: The cooperation of biocatalysis and chemocatalysis in a catalytic cascade reaction has been widely studied. However, practical applications are hindered by enzyme fragility, poor compatibility between carriers and enzymes, and limited catalytic efficiency. In this study, a biomimetic cascade nanoreactor (GOx@COFs@Os) was developed, integrating glucose oxidase (GOx) and Os nanozyme with covalent organic framework (COF) capsules. The GOx@COFs@Os capsule provided a spacious microenvironment to retain GOx activity and protect it from incompatible environments. The COF capsule also improved substrate affinity and mass transfer efficiency, resulting in significantly improved catalytic efficiency compared to the free cascade system. Moreover, the biomimetic cascade capsule was successfully used for glucose monitoring, glutathione sensing, and bisphenol S detection. This strategy provides a new avenue for improving biocatalytic cascade performance and expanding its applications in various fields.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yaaser Q. Almulaiky, J. Alkabli, Reda M. El-Shishtawy
Summary: Modified polymer design has been used successfully for enzyme immobilization, offering improved stability and expanded operational conditions. In this study, amine-terminated polymers were synthesized and utilized for the capture and conversion of silver ions into silver nanoparticles for enzyme immobilization. Extensive characterization techniques were employed to investigate the structural composition and properties of the support materials. The immobilized enzymes exhibited better storage stability and broader pH and temperature adaptability compared to the free enzyme.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sukitha Geethma Kothalawala, Jinqing Jiao, Robert Speight, Hao Song, Yannan Yang, Jun Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the influence of the pore architecture of silica nanospheres on enzyme performance, and finds that fractal silica nanoparticles have higher immobilization capacity, sustained release, and enhanced reusability.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chao Huang, Yue Feng, Gopal Patel, Xiao-qian Xu, Jun Qian, Qun Liu, Guo-yin Kai
Summary: A novel highly productive beta-glucosidase strain was isolated from Camptotheca acuminata seeds, showing 14.4-fold increase in activity compared to control. The purified and immobilized beta-glucosidase exhibited enhanced thermal stability, reusability, and substrate specificity, making it a promising alternative for cellulosic ethanol production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiuhong Wu, Boquan Qu, Yongkang Liu, Xingxuan Ren, Shaoyan Wang, Yanling Quan
Summary: This study developed an enzyme immobilization method for the efficient biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1, resulting in increased activity and stability. The immobilized enzyme showed higher immobilization efficiency, a wider optimal pH range, higher thermostability, and greater catalytic efficiency compared to the free enzyme.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Li Xu, Min Guo, Chin-Te Hung, Xiao-Lei Shi, Yiwen Yuan, Xingmiao Zhang, Ren-Hua Jin, Wei Li, Qiang Dong, Dongyuan Zhao
Summary: We report a strategy for the synthesis of chiral mesoporous silica nanospheres with molecular-scale-like chirality. The functionalization of micelles with chiral amide gels leads to the growth of molecularly chiral silica sols, which self-assemble into dendritic large mesoporous silica nanospheres with molecular chirality. The resulting chiral mesoporous silica shows abundant large mesopores, high pore volumes, high surface areas, and exhibits notable optical activity. It also displays good chiral stability and exhibits significant inhibition of β-amyloid protein aggregation formation and cytotoxicity.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qian Zhang, Minying Wu, Yuanyuan Fang, Chao Deng, Hsin-Hui Shen, Yi Tang, Yajun Wang
Summary: Mesoporous silica materials with large dendritic mesopores have been successfully prepared by using barium sulfate nanoparticles and in situ-formed 3-aminophenol/formaldehyde resin. The resulting hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles show high enzyme loading capacity and efficient catalytic activity in the degradation reaction of H2O2.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Silvia Leccese, Thomas Onfroy, Adjele Wilson, Diana Kirilovsky, Sandra Casale, Saremble Guira, Mohamed Selmane, Claude Jolivalt, Alberto Mezzetti
Summary: This study focuses on the immobilization of the photoactive Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) on mesoporous silica nanoparticles and investigates its structural characterization. The results highlight the enhanced immobilization of OCP by pre-photoactivation, leading to photochromic nanoparticles. The study also explores the possibility of releasing OCP from the nanoparticles and suggests potential applications in nanoscale optical devices and antioxidant drug delivery.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lixi Cai, Yunmen Chu, Xin Liu, Yue Qiu, Zhongqi Ge, Guangya Zhang
Summary: The novel all-in-one strategy for enzyme purification and immobilization effectively immobilizes target enzymes without prior purification, with high efficiency and enzyme retention. The immobilized enzyme shows good activity retention, stability, and reusability, highlighting its potential in various fields, including algae biomass conversion.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Aniello Costantini, Valeria Califano
Summary: Lipases are essential enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol into fatty acids and have versatile applications, including biodiesel production. To maintain their stability and activity, lipases need to be immobilized on insoluble supports, with mesoporous silica nanoparticles being a promising option due to their thermal and mechanical stability, controlled textural characteristics, and surface functionalization capabilities.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyu Li, Efrain E. Rodriguez
Summary: This study demonstrated the hydrothermal conversion of mesoporous TiO2 to mesoporous SrTiO3, with controlled pore size distribution and potential for high-temperature applications due to thermal stability.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chun Xu, Chang Lei, Yue Wang, Chengzhong Yu
Summary: Dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles have attracted attention due to their wide applications, but the terminology used is ambiguous. This review provides a critical analysis of reported dendritic silica nanoparticles according to their structural classification, updating the understanding of their formation mechanisms and the control of structural parameters. The review also focuses on the applications of dendritic mesoporous nanoparticles in the biomedical field, offering new insights into the structure-property relationship.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lijuan Zhong, Caiyun He, Chunyan Xiao, Chuanyi Yao, Ian Howard Pyatt, Yinghua Lu
Summary: CALB immobilized on carboxyl-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica spheres exhibited higher loading capacity and enzyme activity than free CALB. The immobilized CALB also showed better resistance to changes in reaction pH and temperature, as well as improved thermal and storage stability, making it promising for industrial applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thiago M. M. Da Cunha, Adriano A. A. Mendes, Daniela B. B. Hirata, Joelise A. F. Angelotti
Summary: This study aimed to find the optimal conditions for immobilizing a non-commercial beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger via cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs). The catalytic performance of the immobilized enzyme was compared with that of the soluble enzyme in terms of pH and temperature. The results showed that the immobilized enzyme had improved stability in a wider pH and temperature range, as well as enhanced thermal stability.
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Neha Benedicta Fernandes, Yogendra Nayak, Sanjay Garg, Usha Y. Nayak
Summary: The field of advanced nanotechnology offers a wide range of nanotheranostics for treating malignant tumors. Among them, Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) combined with upconversion nanoparticles have gained prominence in biomedicine research due to their remarkable properties in drug targeting, bio-imaging, and photodynamic/photothermal therapy. MSNs have versatile pore sizes, high drug loading efficiency, and can be functionalized to enhance their applicability. This article focuses on MSN-based hybrid nanotheranostics and their designing strategies, characterization, applications, efficacy, limitations, biotoxicity, as well as current challenges and future perspectives.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Virginia Venezia, Filomena Sannino, Aniello Costantini, Brigida Silvestri, Stefano Cimino, Valeria Califano
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Virginia Venezia, Aniello Costantini, Gianluca Landi, Almerinda Di Benedetto, Filomena Sannino, Valeria Califano
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Virginia Venezia, Valeria Califano, Giulio Pota, Aniello Costantini, Gianluca Landi, Almerinda Di Benedetto
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aniello Costantini, Virginia Venezia, Giulio Pota, Aurelio Bifulco, Valeria Califano, Filomena Sannino
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giuseppe Vitiello, Virginia Venezia, Mariavittoria Verrillo, Assunta Nuzzo, Judith Houston, Stefano Cimino, Gerardino D'Errico, Antonio Aronne, Luigi Paduano, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: Hybrid humic acid/titanium dioxide nanostructured materials show promising antibacterial activity against various pathogens and selective sequestering of specific antibiotics, with a technological approach highlighted for the design of multifunctional nanomaterials addressing environmental and health problems related to water contamination by antibiotics and pathogens.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virginia Venezia, Pietro Renato Avallone, Giuseppe Vitiello, Brigida Silvestri, Nino Grizzuti, Rossana Pasquino, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: The study explores the potential of humic acids (HAs) in improving gelatin's mechanical and thermal properties. It found that HAs can enhance gel strength through noncovalent interactions with gelatin via hydrogen bonding, but excessive concentrations of HAs could weaken the gel.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Virginia Venezia, Giulio Pota, Brigida Silvestri, Giuseppe Vitiello, Paola Di Donato, Gianluca Landi, Valentina Mollo, Mariavittoria Verrillo, Silvana Cangemi, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: This study aims to unveil the stability and functional properties changes of hybrid HA-SiO2 nanoparticles in aqueous environment through preparation and aging experiments. The interactions between HA and inorganic nanoparticles were demonstrated, showing their effects on antioxidant activity and other properties.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Virginia Venezia, Samuele Matta, Sandro Lehner, Giuseppe Vitiello, Aniello Costantini, Sabyasachi Gaan, Giulio Malucelli, Francesco Branda, Giuseppina Luciani, Aurelio Bifulco
Summary: In this study, humic acid was utilized as a flame retardant additive, showcasing the waste-to-wealth approach. The presence of silicon-modified epoxy chains improved the distribution of biowaste within the resin, achieving a UL 94-V-0 classification for the epoxy resin with 6% HA. Furthermore, the addition of APP and UR significantly reduced peak heat release rate and delayed ignition, contributing to the enhancement of fire performance in the hybrid epoxy system.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Giulio Pota, Giuseppe Vitiello, Virginia Venezia, Francesca Della Sala, Assunta Borzacchiello, Aniello Costantini, Luigi Paduano, Leide P. Cavalcanti, Fabiana Tescione, Brigida Silvestri, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: Hybrid heparin/silica nanoparticles were synthesized in this study, with silica acting as a templating agent for heparin supramolecular organization. The nanoparticles exhibited different supramolecular organization leading to distinct behaviors in drug encapsulation and release.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Virginia Venezia, Giulio Pota, Brigida Silvestri, Aniello Costantini, Giuseppe Vitiello, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: This article reviews the state of the art in producing hierarchical photocatalysts. It introduces different synthesis strategies and critically compares available methods based on their envisaged applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virginia Venezia, Mariavittoria Verrillo, Pietro Renato Avallone, Brigida Silvestri, Silvana Cangemi, Rossana Pasquino, Nino Grizzuti, Riccardo Spaccini, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: In this study, humic substances (HS) were combined with gelatin to produce 3D hydrogels. Hybrid gels (GelHS) were prepared by physical or chemical cross-linking. The physicochemical features of the gels were evaluated using various techniques, and the results showed the formation of an amide bond between HS and gelatin via EDC chemistry. The gels exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and the chemical cross-linking process improved their viscoelastic behavior, crystalline structures, water uptake, and biocidal activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Virginia Venezia, Cristina Prieto, Zoran Evtoski, Chiara Marcoaldi, Brigida Silvestri, Giuseppe Vitiello, Giuseppina Luciani, Jose M. Lagaron
Summary: Sustainable packaging materials can minimize the environmental impact of packaged food by preserving quality and reducing plastic waste. The waste to wealth approach can utilize bioavailable active compounds from waste residues. In this study, humic substances (HS) derived from biowaste were combined with inorganic nanostructures through electrospinning technology to create composite films for active food packaging. The results suggest that this approach is promising for converting biowaste into multifunctional packaging materials.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Paola Amato, Marica Muscetta, Virginia Venezia, Mariacristina Cocca, Gennaro Gentile, Rachele Castaldo, Raffaele Marotta, Giuseppe Vitiello
Summary: The mismanagement of plastics leads to high levels of waste and release into the environment, where they can persist for long periods of time due to low degradation rates. Photocatalytic methods, using Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generated by semiconductor materials, offer a promising and cost-effective solution for plastic degradation. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this eco-sustainable approach in creating hybrid photocatalysts with enhanced ROS-generating ability for improved plastic photo-oxidation in aqueous environments.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Virginia Venezia, Mariavittoria Verrillo, Noemi Gallucci, Rocco Di Girolamo, Giuseppina Luciani, Gerardino D'Errico, Luigi Paduano, Alessandro Piccolo, Giuseppe Vitiello
Summary: The waste-to-wealth strategy promotes the design of new value-added materials using biowastes. Humic Acids (HA) are intriguing due to their supramolecular associations, which enable adsorption, chelation, redox behavior, and antibacterial activity. Combining HA with semiconductor nanoparticles allows for the creation of nanostructured hybrids with advanced properties. The study provides insights into producing low-cost organo-inorganic nanomaterials with redox and biocide properties to address environmental and health issues.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Alessandra Di Nardo, Marcella Calabrese, Virginia Venezia, Maria Portarapillo, Maria Turco, Almerinda Di Benedetto, Giuseppina Luciani
Summary: Energy and environmental issues are crucial, and the transition to renewable energy sources requires technological, political, and behavioral changes. Hydrogen presents a promising solution, with global demand expected to increase. This article describes and compares various technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and utilization, focusing on the research activities of the SaRAH group at the University of Naples Federico II.