Effect of calcium on immobilization of rice (Oryza sativa L.) peroxidase for bioassays in sodium alginate and Agarose gel

Agarose-based biomaterials for advanced drug delivery

Agarose is a prominent marine polysaccharide representing reversible thermogelling behavior, outstanding mechanical properties, high bioactivity, and switchable chemical reactivity for functionalization. As a result, agarose has received particular attention in the fabrication of advanced delivery systems as sophisticated carriers for therapeutic agents. The ever-growing use of agarose-based biomaterials for drug delivery systems resulted in rapid growth in the number of related publications, however still, a long way should be paved to achieve FDA approval for most of the proposed products. This review aims at a classification of agarose-based biomaterials and their derivatives applicable for controlled/targeted drug delivery purposes. Moreover, it attempts to deal with opportunities and challenges associated with the future developments ahead of agarose-based biomaterials in the realm of advanced drug delivery. Undoubtedly, this class of biomaterials needs further advancement, and a lot of critical questions have yet to be answered.

Applications of soluble, encapsulated and cross-linked peroxidases from Sapindus mukorossi for the removal of phenolic compounds

Peroxidases have been known to polymerize phenolic compounds and precipitate them from solution. Sapindus peroxidases (SPases) were extracted from the leaves of Sapindus mukorossi and precipitated with four volumes of chilled methanol. Soluble, encapsulated and cross-linked forms of enzymes were used for the removal of phenolic compounds (initial concentration 1.0 mM) in a stirred batch reactor. Calcium alginate beads were prepared using sodium alginate and calcium chloride at 1.5% and 5.0% (w/v), respectively. Sodium alginate and glutaraldehyde at 1.0% (w/v) and 0.8% (v/v), respectively, were optimized for cross-linking of SPases. The maximal removal of 2-chlorophenol was found in the buffers ofpH range 4-7 and at 30-60 degrees C in the presence of 1.2 mM H2O2 by soluble enzymes, but encapsulated and cross-linked enzymes worked well at pH 5 and at 50 degrees C in the presence of 0.8 mM H2O2. The optimized doses of soluble, encapsulated and cross-linked SPases were 1.2, 4.2 and 1.2 mg/mL, respectively, for the removal of phenolic compounds. Encapsulated and cross-linked enzymes showed a lower efficiency than soluble enzyme but can be reused in multiple cycles for the removal of phenolic compounds.