Enzymatic synthesis and various properties of poly(catechol)

A Green Catechol-Containing Cellulose Nanofibrils-Cross-Linked Adhesive

Traditional adhesives with strong adhesion are widely applied in the fields of wood, building, and electronics. However, the synthesis and usage of commercial adhesives are not eco-friendly, which are harmful to human health and to the environment. In this study, a green cellulose nanofibrils/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-dopamine methacrylamide) (CNFs/P(HEMA-co-DMA)) adhesive with excellent biocompatibility and strong bonding strength has been fabricated. P(HEMA-co-DMA) with a catechol content of 7.1 mol % was synthesized using dopamine methacrylamide and hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The CNFs/P(HEMA-co-DMA) adhesive was generated by cross-linking P(HEMA-co-DMA) solution using cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Strong adhesion was realized on various substrates, with a maximum lap shear strength of 5.50 MPa on steel. The NIH 3T3 cells test demonstrated that the adhesive possessed excellent biocompatibility. The green catechol-containing CNFs-cross-linked adhesive has promising potential for applications in medicine, electronic, food packaging, and engineering.

Poly(catechol) modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites with continuous high Fenton activity for organic degradation at neutral pH

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used as a recyclable catalyst in Fenton reaction for organic degradation. However, the pristine MNPs suffer from the drawbacks of iron leaching in acidic conditions as well as the decreasing catalytic activity of organic degradation at a pH higher than 3.0. To solve the problems, Fe3O4 MNPs were modified by poly(catechol) (Fe3O4/PCC MNPs) using a facile chemical co-precipitation method. The poly(catechol) modification improved both the dispersity and the surface negative charges of Fe3O4/PCC MNPs, which are beneficial to the catalytic activity of MNPs for organic degradation. Moreover, the poly(catechol) modification enhanced the efficiency of Fe(II) regeneration during Fenton reaction due to the acceleration of Fe(III) reduction by the phenolic/quinonoid redox pair. As a result, the Fenton reaction with Fe3O4/PCC MNPs could efficiently degrade organic molecules, exampled by methylene blue (MB), in an expanded pH range between 3.0 and 10.0. In addition, Fe3O4/PCC MNPs could be reused up to 8 cycles for the MB degradation with negligible iron leaching of lower than 1.5 mg L-1. This study demonstrated Fe3O4/PCC MNPs are a promising heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for organic degradation.

Bioactive Films from Willow Bark Extract and Nanocellulose Double Network Hydrogels

In nature, the protection of sensitive components from external threats relies on the combination of physical barriers and bioactive secondary metabolites. Polyphenols and phenols are active molecules that protect organisms from physical and chemical threats such as UV irradiation and oxidative stress. The utilization of biopolymers and natural bioactive phenolic components as protective coating layers in packaging solutions would enable easier recyclability of materials and greener production process compared with the current plastic-based products. Herein, we produce a fully wood-based double network material with tunable bioactive and optical properties consisting of nanocellulose and willow bark extract. Willow bark extract, embedded in nanocellulose, was cross-linked into a polymeric nanoparticle network using either UV irradiation or enzymatic means. Based on rheological analysis, atomic force microscopy, antioxidant activity, and transmittance measurements, the cross-linking resulted in a double network gel with enhanced rheological properties that could be casted into optically active films with good antioxidant properties and tunable oxygen barrier properties. The purely biobased, sustainably produced, bioactive material described here broadens the utilization perspectives for wood-based biomass, especially wood-bark extractives. This material has potential in applications where biodegradability, UV shielding, and antioxidant properties of hydrogels or thin films are needed, for example in medical, pharmaceutical, food, and feed applications, but also as a functional barrier coating in packaging materials as the hydrogel properties are transferred to the casted and dried films.

Antioxidant Activity of Synthetic Polymers of Phenolic Compounds

In recent years, developing potent antioxidants has been a very active area of research. In this context, phenolic compounds have been evaluated for their antioxidant activity. However, the use of phenolic compounds has also been limited by poor antioxidant activity in several in vivo studies. Polymeric phenols have received much attention owing to their potent antioxidant properties and increased stability in aqueous systems. To be truly effective in biological applications, it is important that these polymers be synthesized using benign methods. In this context, enzyme catalyzed synthesis of polymeric phenols has been explored as an environmentally friendly and safer approach. This review summarizes work in enzymatic syntheses of polymers of phenols. Several assays have been developed to determine the antioxidant potency of these polymeric phenols. These assays are discussed in detail along with structure-property relationships. A deeper understanding of factors affecting antioxidant activity would provide an opportunity for the design of versatile, high performing polymers with enhanced antioxidant activity.

Expanding the DOPA Universe with Genetically Encoded, Mussel-Inspired Bioadhesives for Material Sciences and Medicine

Catechols are a biologically relevant group of aromatic diols that have attracted much attention as mediators of adhesion of "bio-glue" proteins in mussels of the genus Mytilus. These organisms use catechols in the form of the noncanonical amino acid l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) as a building block for adhesion proteins. The DOPA is generated post-translationally from tyrosine. Herein, we review the properties, natural occurrence, and reactivity of catechols in the design of bioinspired materials. We also provide a basic description of the mussel's attachment apparatus, the interplay between its different molecules that play a crucial role in adhesion, and the role of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of these proteins. Our focus is on the microbial production of mussel foot proteins with the aid of orthogonal translation systems (OTSs) and the use of genetic code engineering to solve some fundamental problems in the bioproduction of these bioadhesives and to expand their chemical space. The major limitation of bacterial expression systems is their intrinsic inability to introduce PTMs. OTSs have the potential to overcome these challenges by replacing canonical amino acids with noncanonical ones. In this way, PTM steps are circumvented while the genetically programmed precision of protein sequences is preserved. In addition, OTSs should enable spatiotemporal control over the complex adhesion process, because the catechol function can be masked by suitable chemical protection. Such caged residues can then be noninvasively unmasked by, for example, UV irradiation or thermal treatment. All of these features make OTSs based on genetic code engineering in reprogrammed microbial strains new and promising tools in bioinspired materials science.

Fast and Green Synthesis of an Oligo-Hydrocaffeic Acid-Based Adhesive

A green, mussel-inspired bioadhesive based on oligomerization of hydrocaffeic acid was synthesized in water by an ultrafast one-step reaction in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide as an activating agent. The resulting oligomers exhibited strong wet adhesion when applied to different substrates including glass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Compared to most commercial adhesives, this bioinspired adhesive is produced via a sustainable and green process, i.e., aqueous-based synthesis, one-step reaction, and in the absence of any purification step to obtain the final functional adhesive.

Surface Water Structure and Hygroscopic Properties of Light Absorbing Secondary Organic Polymers of Atmospheric Relevance

Hygroscopic properties and chemical reactivity of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) influence their overall contribution to the indirect effect on the climate. In this study, we investigate the hygroscopic properties of organic and organometallic polymeric particles, namely polycatechol, polyguaiacol, Fe-polyfumarte, and Fe-polymuconate. These particles efficiently form in iron-catalyzed reactions with aromatic and aliphatic dicarboxylic acid compounds detected in field-collected SOA. The structure of surface water was studied using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and the uptake of gas water was quantified using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a function of relative humidity. Spectroscopic data show that water bonding with organic functional groups acting as hydrogen bond acceptors causes shifts in their vibrational modes. Analysis of the hydroxyl group stretching region revealed weak and strong hydrogen bonding networks that suggest cluster formation reflecting water-water and water-organics interactions, respectively. A modified Type II multilayer Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption model described the adsorption isotherm on the nonporous materials, polycatechol, polyguaiacol, and Fe-polymuconate. However, water adsorption on porous Fe-polyfumarate was best described using a Type V adsorption model, namely the Langmuir-Sips model that accounts for condensation in pores. The data revealed that organometallic polymers are more hygroscopic than organic polymers. The implications of these investigations are discussed in the context of the chemical reactivity of these particles relative to known SOA.

Antibacterial Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Enzymatic Synthesized Poly(catechol) Nanofibrous Midlayer Membrane for Ultrafiltration

Two different nanofibrous antibacterial membranes containing enzymatically synthesized poly(catechol) (PC) or silver nitrate (AgNO₃, positive control) blended with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and electrospun onto a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) basal disc to generate thin-film composite midlayers were produced for water ultrafiltration applications. The developed membranes were thoroughly characterized in terms of morphology, chemical composition, and general mechanical and thermal features, antimicrobial activity, and ultrafiltration capabilities. The electrospun blends were recognized as homogeneous. Data revealed relevant conformational changes in the PVA side groups, attributed to hydrogen bonding, high thermal stability, and residual mass. PVDF+PVA/AgNO₃ membrane displayed 100% growth inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains, despite the wide range of fiber diameters generated, from 24 to 125 nm, formation of numerous beads, and irregular morphology. The PVDF+PVA/PC membrane showed a good growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (92%) and revealed a smooth morphology with no relevant bead formations and diameters ranging from 68 to 131 nm. The ultrafiltration abilities of the membrane containing PVA/PC were tested in a dead-end high-pressure cell (4 bar) using a reactive dye in distilled water and seawater. After 5 cycles, a maximum rejection of ≈85% with an average flux rate of 70 L m^-2 h^-1 for distilled water and ≈64% with an average flux rate of 62 L m^-2 h^-1 for seawater were determined with an overall salt rejection of ≈5%.

Bioconversion of Biomass-Derived Phenols Catalyzed by Myceliophthora thermophila Laccase

Biomass-derived phenols have recently arisen as an attractive alternative for building blocks to be used in synthetic applications, due to their widespread availability as an abundant renewable resource. In the present paper, commercial laccase from the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila was used to bioconvert phenol monomers, namely catechol, pyrogallol and gallic acid in water. The resulting products from catechol and gallic acid were polymers that were partially characterized in respect to their optical and thermal properties, and their average molecular weight was estimated via solution viscosity measurements and GPC. FT-IR and ¹H-NMR data suggest that phenol monomers are connected with ether or C–C bonds depending on the starting monomer, while the achieved molecular weight of polycatechol is found higher than the corresponding poly(gallic acid). On the other hand, under the same condition, pyrogallol was dimerized in a pure red crystalline compound and its structure was confirmed by ¹H-NMR as purpurogallin. The herein studied green synthesis of enzymatically synthesized phenol polymers or biological active compounds could be exploited as an alternative synthetic route targeting a variety of applications.

Enzymes as Green Catalysts for Precision Macromolecular Synthesis

The present article comprehensively reviews the macromolecular synthesis using enzymes as catalysts. Among the six main classes of enzymes, the three classes, oxidoreductases, transferases, and hydrolases, have been employed as catalysts for the in vitro macromolecular synthesis and modification reactions. Appropriate design of reaction including monomer and enzyme catalyst produces macromolecules with precisely controlled structure, similarly as in vivo enzymatic reactions. The reaction controls the product structure with respect to substrate selectivity, chemo-selectivity, regio-selectivity, stereoselectivity, and choro-selectivity. Oxidoreductases catalyze various oxidation polymerizations of aromatic compounds as well as vinyl polymerizations. Transferases are effective catalysts for producing polysaccharide having a variety of structure and polyesters. Hydrolases catalyzing the bond-cleaving of macromolecules in vivo, catalyze the reverse reaction for bond forming in vitro to give various polysaccharides and functionalized polyesters. The enzymatic polymerizations allowed the first in vitro synthesis of natural polysaccharides having complicated structures like cellulose, amylose, xylan, chitin, hyaluronan, and chondroitin. These polymerizations are "green" with several respects; nontoxicity of enzyme, high catalyst efficiency, selective reactions under mild conditions using green solvents and renewable starting materials, and producing minimal byproducts. Thus, the enzymatic polymerization is desirable for the environment and contributes to "green polymer chemistry" for maintaining sustainable society.

Effect of phosphate on heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of catechol by nano-Fe₃O₄ Inhibitor or stabilizer?

The effect of phosphate on adsorption and oxidation of catechol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene, in a heterogeneous Fenton system was investigated. In situ attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to monitor the surface speciation at the nano-Fe3O4 catalyst surface. The presence of phosphate decreased the removal rate of catechol and the abatement of dissolved organic compounds, as well as the decomposition of H2O2. This effect of phosphate was mainly due to its strong reaction with surface sites on the iron oxide catalyst. At neutral and acid pH, phosphate could displace the adsorbed catechol from the surface of catalyst and also could compete for surface sites with H2O2. In situ IR spectra indicated the formation of iron phosphate precipitation at the catalyst surface. The iron phosphate surface species may affect the amount of iron atoms taking part in the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 and formation of hydroxyl radicals, and inhibit the catalytic ability of Fe3O4 catalyst. Therefore, phosphate ions worked as stabilizer and inhibitor in a heterogeneous Fenton reaction at the same time, in effect leading to an increase in oxidation efficiency in this study. However, before use of phosphate as pH buffer or H2O2 stabilizer in a heterogeneous Fenton system, the possible inhibitory effect of phosphate on the actual removal of organic pollutants should be fully considered.

Formation of Light Absorbing Soluble Secondary Organics and Insoluble Polymeric Particles from the Dark Reaction of Catechol and Guaiacol with Fe(III)

Transition metals such as iron are reactive components of environmentally relevant surfaces. Here, dark reaction of Fe(III) with catechol and guaiacol was investigated in an aqueous solution at pH 3 under experimental conditions that mimic reactions in the adsorbed phase of water. Using UV-vis spectroscopy, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, dynamic light scattering, and electron microscopy techniques, we characterized the reactants, intermediates, and products as a function of reaction time. The reactions of Fe(III) with catechol and guaiacol produced significant changes in the optical spectra of the solutions due to the formation of light absorbing secondary organics and colloidal organic particles. The primary steps in the reaction mechanism were shown to include oxidation of catechol and guaiacol to hydroxy- and methoxy-quinones. The particles formed within a few minutes of reaction and grew to micron-size aggregates after half an hour reaction. The mass-normalized absorption coefficients of the particles were comparable to those of strongly absorbing brown carbon compounds produced by biomass burning. These results could account for new pathways that lead to atmospheric secondary organic aerosol formation and abiotic polymer formation on environmental surfaces mediated by transition metals.

Regioselective synthesis of polygamma (γ) acid

The oxidative polymerization of 6-amino-4-hydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid was carried out in an aqueous alkaline medium. The polymer showed uncommon multicolored emission behavior in DMSO, emitting blue, green, and yellow light at 405, 480, and 532 nm, respectively.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a tool in green chemistry

The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) potential in organic synthesis.

Automated analysis of synthesized oligorutin and oligoesculin by laccase

The polymerization of phenolic species is an interesting way to generate derivatives with new or improved properties. The structural analysis of these compounds is complex and requires specific analytical techniques. The size exclusion chromatography coupled with an UV detector (SEC-UV) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization coupled with a time-of-flight detector (MALDI-TOF) analyses are two methods used to investigate the masses of biopolymers. To analyse the oligomers of rutin and esculin synthesized by the laccase from Trametes versicolor , these two techniques were used and coupled with an automated platform. The conditions of detection by MALDI-TOF were optimized. The parallel synthesis, the preparation of sample, the SEC analysis, and the MALDI spotting were realized automatically on a Chemspeed platform. The MALDI-TOF technique enables the detection of oligomers up to pentamer and nonamer, whereas the SEC-UV permits the detection of about 17-mer for rutin and esculin. The molecular mass distribution is underestimated by MALDI-TOF analysis compared with SEC-UV, but comes to the determination of absolute masses. So these two techniques would be combined to explore the masses and the oligomer distributions.

The catalytic role of uranyl in formation of polycatechol complexes

To better understand the association of contaminant uranium with natural organic matter (NOM) and the fate of uranium in ground water, spectroscopic studies of uranium complexation with catechol were conducted. Catechol provides a model for ubiquitous functional groups present in NOM. Liquid samples were analyzed using Raman, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Catechol was found to polymerize in presence of uranyl ions. Polymerization in presence of uranyl was compared to reactions in the presence of molybdate, another oxyion, and self polymerization of catechol at high pH. The effect of time and dissolved oxygen were also studied. It was found that oxygen was required for self-polymerization at elevated pH. The potential formation of phenoxy radicals as well as quinones was monitored. The benzene ring was found to be intact after polymerization. No evidence for formation of ether bonds was found, suggesting polymerization was due to formation of C-C bonds between catechol ligands. Uranyl was found to form outer sphere complexes with catechol at initial stages but over time (six months) polycatechol complexes were formed and precipitated from solution (forming humic-like material) while uranyl ions remained in solution. Our studies show that uranyl acts as a catalyst in catechol-polymerization.

Laccase-assisted Dyeing of Cotton

Cotton cellulose was dyed "in situ" with a polymeric dye generated by oxidative coupling of colourless 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid and 1-hydroxyphenol (catechol) with laccase. Up to 70% dye fixation was obtained increasing the concentration of catechol less soluble upon oxidation from 1 to 10 mmol, while 1 mmol of diamine was used. Dye fixation was not achieved using equal molar concentrations of the reagents.

Peroxidase-catalyzed in situ polymerization of surface orientated caffeic acid

Nanoscale surface patterning and polymerization of caffeic acid on 4-aminothiophenol-functionalized gold surfaces has been demonstrated with dip pen nanolithography (DPN). The diphenolic moiety of caffeic acid can be polymerized by biocatalysis with laccase or horseradish peroxidase. In the present study, the DPN patterned features were polymerized in situ through the use of the peroxidase. Using samples prepared by DPN, microcontact printing, and adsorption on macroscopic substrates, the products were characterized by electrostatic force microscopy (EFM), MALDI-TOF, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis, and FT-IR. The in situ surface polymerization resulted in the formation of a quinone structure, while the phenyl ester formed in bulk polymerization reactions was not detected. A different coupling site was observed when comparing the polymers obtained from solution (bulk) vs the surface DPN reactions. The structural differences were attributed to surface-induced pre-organization and orientation of the monomers prior to the enzymatic polymerization step. The results of this study expand the application of DPN technology to surface modification and surface chemistry reactions wherein stereo-regularity and regioselectivity can be exploited.

A Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Approach to the Study of the Interactions and Photoinduced Electron Transfer between Catechol and Anatase Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solution

We have combined in situ photoelectrochemical and spectroscopic techniques (Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared, ATR-IR, and Resonance Raman Spectroscopy) for the study of the charge-transfer complex formed upon adsorption of catechol on anatase nanoparticles in contact with aqueous acidic solutions. Vibrational spectroscopies reveal the existence of at least two adsorbate configurations: catecholate in a chelate configuration and molecularly adsorbed catechol, with apparent values of -12.3 and -10.5 kJ mol(-1), respectively. These values are significantly less negative than the values reported for anatase colloidal dispersions. The adsorption of both catechol species on the nanoparticulate anatase thin films follows the Freundlich isotherm. As revealed by resonance Raman spectroscopy, only the adsorbed chelating catecholate forms the charge-transfer complex. The electron transfer from the adsorbate to the anatase nanoparticles has been evidenced by the development of a negative photopotential upon 514.5 or 632.8 nm laser illumination of an anatase nanostructured thin film electrode in contact with a catechol solution. The time evolution of the Raman spectra shows an increasing fluorescence indicating that, upon electron injection, catechol polymerization occurs on the TiO2 surfaces. This conclusion is confirmed by in situ ATR-IR measurements, which show a progressive broadening of the catecholate bands together with the appearance of new signals. This study illustrates the benefits of combining electrochemical, infrared, and Raman techniques for the elucidation of processes occurring at the semiconductor/solution interface. Finally, evidence is given on the different adsorption and reactivity behavior found for suspensions and nanoporous thin films under equivalent experimental conditions.

Biocatalytic synthesis of polycatechols from toxic aromatic compounds

A process is described in which toxic aromatic compounds are converted by toluene dioxygenase and in turn toluene cis-dihydrodiol dehydrogenase to catechols which are further polymerized by peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation producing polycatechols. Three approaches for obtaining catechols were employed: (1) addition of halogenated aromatics to P. putida F1, resulting in the accumulation of halogenated catechols; (2) inhibition of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase of P. putida F1 by known aromatic and aliphatic inhibitors; and (3) overexpression of toluene dioxygenase and toluene cis-dihydrodiol dehydrogenase genes in E. coli JM109. The process is suitable for producing novel catechols that upon oxidation may yield polymers with unique properties, presenting a tool for producing tailor-made biopolymers. Formation of 3-chlorocatechol from chlorobenzene, 3,4-dichlorocatechol from 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and catechol from benzene and their subsequent oxidation and polymerization was demonstrated. Oxidation of catechol yielded polymers with molecular weights of up to 4000 Daltons. Their apparently high water solubility eliminates the need for water-miscible solvents. In aqueous solution oxidation of catechols was rapid, yet the presence of 20%, 30%, and 40% ethanol, resulted in a rate decrease of 31%, 95%, and 93%, respectively. The advantage is that significantly less peroxidase is required for performing the reactions if miscible solvents are not employed. Furthermore, water-soluble polymers may be desirable for many applications.