Humic acid particle embedded super porous gum Arabic cryogel network for versatile use

Polymeric Materials Used for Immobilisation of Bacteria for the Bioremediation of Contaminants in Water

Bioremediation is a key process for reclaiming polluted soil and water by the use of biological agents. A commonly used approach aims to neutralise or remove harmful pollutants from contaminated areas using live microorganisms. Generally, immobilised microorganisms rather than planktonic cells have been used in bioremediation methods. Activated carbon, inorganic minerals (clays, metal oxides, zeolites), and agricultural waste products are acceptable substrates for the immobilisation of bacteria, although there are limitations with biomass loading and the issue with leaching of bacteria during the process. Various synthetic and natural polymers with different functional groups have been used successfully for the efficient immobilisation of microorganisms and cells. Promise has been shown using macroporous materials including cryogels with entrapped bacteria or cells in applications for water treatment and biotechnology. A cryogel is a macroporous polymeric gel formed at sub-zero temperatures through a process known as cryogelation. Macroporous hydrogels have been used to make scaffolds or supports for immobilising bacterial, viral, and other cells. The production of composite materials with immobilised cells possessing suitable mechanical and chemical stability, porosity, elasticity, and biocompatibility suggests that these materials are potential candidates for a range of applications within applied microbiology, biotechnology, and research. This review evaluates applications of macroporous cryogels as tools for the bioremediation of contaminants in wastewater.

Modifiable natural gum based microgel capsules as sustainable drug delivery systems

Few hundred micrometer size microgel capsules from natural locust bean gum (LBG) was synthesized by means of divinyl sulfone (DVS) crosslinking in a surfactant free cyclohexane medium with 100% yield in 1 h. These LBG microgel capsules were chemically modified with different numbers of linear amine containing modifying agents such as ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetraamine (TETA) and branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) to induce cationic character for LBG microgels. The biggest change in zeta potential of LBG microgels that is +44.9 mV from -17.67 mV was observed upon the modification of LBG microgels with branched PEI (LBG/PEI). The blood compatibility studies were revealed that bare LBG microgels possess a good blood compatibility with non-hemolytic value, 0.96 ± 0.15%, and high blood clotting index, 87.35 ± 4.10%, whereas the blood compatibility of LBG/PEI microgels was found to be slightly-hemolytic, 4.96 ± 1.03%, and also moderate blood clotting index, 65.98 ± 98%. Additionally, sodium diclofenac (SDC) as a model drug was loaded into the LBG based microgels by directly loading from solution (absorption) and by chemical conjugation methods for in vitro release studies at physiological conditions, pH 7.4 at 37.5 °C A longer, and sustainable drug release profiles were obtained from chemical drug conjugated LBG microgels and the amine modified LBG microgels.