1
|
Righetti GIC, Faedi F, Famulari A. Embracing Sustainability: The World of Bio-Based Polymers in a Mini Review. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:950. [PMID: 38611207 PMCID: PMC11013738 DOI: 10.3390/polym16070950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The proliferation of polymer science and technology in recent decades has been remarkable, with synthetic polymers derived predominantly from petroleum-based sources dominating the market. However, concerns about their environmental impacts and the finite nature of fossil resources have sparked interest in sustainable alternatives. Bio-based polymers, derived from renewable sources such as plants and microbes, offer promise in addressing these challenges. This review provides an overview of bio-based polymers, discussing their production methods, properties, and potential applications. Specifically, it explores prominent examples including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and polyhydroxy polyamides (PHPAs). Despite their current limited market share, the growing awareness of environmental issues and advancements in technology are driving increased demand for bio-based polymers, positioning them as essential components in the transition towards a more sustainable future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Isa C. Righetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Famulari
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Toivari M, Vehkomäki ML, Ruohonen L, Penttilä M, Wiebe MG. Production of D-glucaric acid with phosphoglucose isomerase-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Lett 2024; 46:69-83. [PMID: 38064042 PMCID: PMC10787697 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03443-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
D-Glucaric acid is a potential biobased platform chemical. Previously mainly Escherichia coli, but also the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pichia pastoris, have been engineered for conversion of D-glucose to D-glucaric acid via myo-inositol. One reason for low yields from the yeast strains is the strong flux towards glycolysis. Thus, to decrease the flux of D-glucose to biomass, and to increase D-glucaric acid yield, the four step D-glucaric acid pathway was introduced into a phosphoglucose isomerase deficient (Pgi1p-deficient) Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. High D-glucose concentrations are toxic to the Pgi1p-deficient strains, so various feeding strategies and use of polymeric substrates were studied. Uniformly labelled 13C-glucose confirmed conversion of D-glucose to D-glucaric acid. In batch bioreactor cultures with pulsed D-fructose and ethanol provision 1.3 g D-glucaric acid L-1 was produced. The D-glucaric acid titer (0.71 g D-glucaric acid L-1) was lower in nitrogen limited conditions, but the yield, 0.23 g D-glucaric acid [g D-glucose consumed]-1, was among the highest that has so far been reported from yeast. Accumulation of myo-inositol indicated that myo-inositol oxygenase activity was limiting, and that there would be potential to even higher yield. The Pgi1p-deficiency in S. cerevisiae provides an approach that in combination with other reported modifications and bioprocess strategies would promote the development of high yield D-glucaric acid yeast strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mervi Toivari
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 21, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland.
| | - Maija-Leena Vehkomäki
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 21, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland
| | - Laura Ruohonen
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 21, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland
| | - Merja Penttilä
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 21, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland
| | - Marilyn G Wiebe
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tekniikantie 21, P.O. Box 1000, 02044, Espoo, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Manaenkov O, Nikoshvili L, Bykov A, Kislitsa O, Grigoriev M, Sulman M, Matveeva V, Kiwi-Minsker L. An Overview of Heterogeneous Catalysts Based on Hypercrosslinked Polystyrene for the Synthesis and Transformation of Platform Chemicals Derived from Biomass. Molecules 2023; 28:8126. [PMID: 38138614 PMCID: PMC10745566 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Platform chemicals, also known as chemical building blocks, are substances that serve as starting materials for the synthesis of various value-added products, which find a wide range of applications. These chemicals are the key ingredients for many fine and specialty chemicals. Most of the transformations of platform chemicals are catalytic processes, which should meet the requirements of sustainable chemistry: to be not toxic for humans, to be safe for the environment, and to allow multiple reuses of catalytic materials. This paper presents an overview of a new class of heterogeneous catalysts based on nanoparticles of catalytically active metals stabilized by a polymer matrix of hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HPS). This polymeric support is characterized by hierarchical porosity (including meso- and macropores along with micropores), which is important both for the formation of metal nanoparticles and for efficient mass transfer of reactants. The influence of key parameters such as the morphology of nanoparticles (bimetallic versus monometallic) and the presence of functional groups in the polymer matrix on the catalytic properties is considered. Emphasis is placed on the use of this class of heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of plant polysaccharides into polyols (sorbitol, mannitol, and glycols), hydrogenation of levulinic acid, furfural, oxidation of disaccharides, and some other reactions that might be useful for large-scale industrial processes that aim to be sustainable. Some challenges related to the use of HPS-based catalysts are addressed and multiple perspectives are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Manaenkov
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Linda Nikoshvili
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Alexey Bykov
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Olga Kislitsa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Maxim Grigoriev
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Mikhail Sulman
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Valentina Matveeva
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
| | - Lioubov Kiwi-Minsker
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Standardization, Tver State Technical University, 170026 Tver, Russia; (O.M.); (L.N.); (A.B.); (O.K.); (M.G.); (M.S.); (V.M.)
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, ISIC-FSB-EPFL, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hydrolytic Oxidation of Cellobiose Using Catalysts Containing Noble Metals. REACTIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/reactions3040039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of the processes of the hydrolytic oxidation of disaccharides are the first step towards the development of technologies for the direct conversion of plant polysaccharides, primarily cellulose, into aldonic and aldaric acids, which are widely used in chemical synthesis and various industries. In this study, heterogeneous catalysts based on a porous matrix of hypercrosslinked polystyrene (HPS) and noble metals (Pt, Au, Ru, and Pd) were proposed for the hydrolytic oxidation of cellobiose to gluconic and glucaric acids. The catalysts were characterized using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, hydrogen chemisorption, electron microscopy, and other methods. In particular, it was shown that the Pt-containing catalyst contained, on average, six times more active centers on the surface, which made it more promising for use in this reaction. At a temperature of 145 °C, an O2 pressure of 5 bars, and a substrate/catalyst weight ratio of 4/1, the yields of gluconic and glucaric acids reached 21.6 and 63.4%, respectively. Based on the data obtained, the mathematical model of the cellobiose hydrolytic oxidation kinetics in the presence of 3% Pt/HPS MN270 was developed, and the parameter estimation was carried out. The formal description of the kinetics of cellobiose hydrolytic oxidation was obtained.
Collapse
|
5
|
Righetti GIC, Truscello A, Li J, Sebastiano R, Citterio A, Gambarotti C. Sustainable synthesis of zwitterionic galactaric acid monoamides as monomers of hydroxylated polyamides. J Carbohydr Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/07328303.2022.2105861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Isa. C. Righetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ada Truscello
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jiemeng Li
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Sebastiano
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Attilio Citterio
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristian Gambarotti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Leonardi G, Truscello A, Mondrone GG, Sebastiano R. A facile synthesis in aqueous medium of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone from aldaric acids or their derivatives. RESULTS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2021.100280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
|
7
|
Righetti GIC, Tentori F, Brenna E, Gambarotti C. Development of a flow process for an easy and fast access to 2-pyrone derivatives. REACT CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2re00312k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Continuous flow synthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone from galactaric acid.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Isa C. Righetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Tentori
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Brenna
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristian Gambarotti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Nakagawa T, Abe H, Gessei T, Takeda K, Igarashi K, Nakamura N. Biorefinery of galacturonic acid using a biofuel cell as a reactor. REACT CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d2re00202g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A reactor based on an enzymatic biofuel cell (an EBFC reactor) was constructed to simultaneously generate electricity and chemical products from biomass.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoe Nakagawa
- Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute, 2-4-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Hayato Abe
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Tomoko Gessei
- Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute, 2-4-10 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Kouta Takeda
- Department of Biomaterials Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Igarashi
- Department of Biomaterials Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Nobuhumi Nakamura
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Apea-Bah FB, Serem JC, Bester MJ, Duodu KG, Beta T. Effect of simulated in vitro upper gut digestion of processed cowpea beans on phenolic composition, antioxidant properties and cellular protection. Food Res Int 2021; 150:110750. [PMID: 34865768 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The effect of simulated in vitro upper gut digestion on the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of processed cowpea beans was studied. The samples comprised four cowpea cultivars: a cream, brownish-cream and two reddish-brown cultivars. Dry cowpea seeds were soaked in water, blended into paste and deep-fried in vegetable oil. The fried samples were taken through in vitro upper gut digestion followed by freeze-drying of the supernatant. Phenolic composition of extracts from the supernatants were determined using HPLC-MS. Radical scavenging activities were documented using the TEAC, ORAC and nitric oxide (NO) assays. In vitro digestion of the processed cowpeas resulted in phenolic-peptide complexes that were identified for the first time, and decreased extractable phenolic compounds. However, the radical scavenging activities increased. The processed cowpeas and their digests inhibited cellular NO production, and oxidative DNA and cellular damage. In conclusion, deep-fried cowpeas when consumed, could potentially help alleviate oxidative stress-related conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franklin B Apea-Bah
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Smartpak, 196 Innovation Drive, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2E1, Canada; Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - June C Serem
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Megan J Bester
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X323, Arcadia 0007, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Kwaku G Duodu
- Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Trust Beta
- Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada; Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Smartpak, 196 Innovation Drive, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2E1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Almeida BC, Kaczmarek JA, Figueiredo PR, Prather KLJ, Carvalho ATP. Transcription factor allosteric regulation through substrate coordination to zinc. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab033. [PMID: 33987533 PMCID: PMC8092373 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new synthetic biology circuits for biotechnology and medicine requires deeper mechanistic insight into allosteric transcription factors (aTFs). Here we studied the aTF UxuR, a homodimer of two domains connected by a highly flexible linker region. To explore how ligand binding to UxuR affects protein dynamics we performed molecular dynamics simulations in the free protein, the aTF bound to the inducer D-fructuronate or the structural isomer D-glucuronate. We then validated our results by constructing a sensor plasmid for D-fructuronate in Escherichia coli and performed site-directed mutagenesis. Our results show that zinc coordination is necessary for UxuR function since mutation to alanines prevents expression de-repression by D-fructuronate. Analyzing the different complexes, we found that the disordered linker regions allow the N-terminal domains to display fast and large movements. When the inducer is bound, UxuR can sample an open conformation with a more pronounced negative charge at the surface of the N-terminal DNA binding domains. In opposition, in the free and D-glucuronate bond forms the protein samples closed conformations, with a more positive character at the surface of the DNA binding regions. These molecular insights provide a new basis to harness these systems for biological systems engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz C Almeida
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jennifer A Kaczmarek
- MIT-Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Pedro R Figueiredo
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kristala L J Prather
- MIT-Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alexandra T P Carvalho
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|