Noncovalent Immobilization of Optimized Bacterial Cytochrome P450 BM3 on Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles

Choose Your Own Adventure: A Comprehensive Database of Reactions Catalyzed by Cytochrome P450 BM3 Variants

Cytochrome P450 BM3 monooxygenase is the topic of extensive research as many researchers have evolved this enzyme to generate a variety of products. However, the abundance of information on increasingly diversified variants of P450 BM3 that catalyze a broad array of chemistry is not in a format that enables easy extraction and interpretation. We present a database that categorizes variants by their catalyzed reactions and includes details about substrates to provide reaction context. This database of >1500 P450 BM3 variants is downloadable and machine-readable and includes instructions to maximize ease of gathering information. The database allows rapid identification of commonly reported substitutions, aiding researchers who are unfamiliar with the enzyme in identifying starting points for enzyme engineering. For those actively engaged in engineering P450 BM3, the database, along with this review, provides a powerful and user-friendly platform to understand, predict, and identify the attributes of P450 BM3 variants, encouraging the further engineering of this enzyme.

Intensified phenol and p-cresol biodegradation for wastewater treatment in countercurrent packed-bed column bioreactors

An intensified biodegradation process in packed-bed column bioreactors (PBCB) with microbial cells attached to packing/micro-particles surface was proposed and simulated via a dynamic 3D model with continuity, momentum, and species (comprising biomicro-particles) balance equations in liquid/gas, accumulation of biomicro-particles in packed-bed, diffusion and enzymatic reaction within biofilm and liquid film. Phenol and phenol/p-cresol biological removal by Pseudomonas putida was chosen to discuss the enhanced biodegradation efficiency. The biodegradation in single/dual-substrate systems is significantly upgraded as biomass loading on micro-particles surface increases. Microbial cells addition to the surface of micro-particles is more efficient when the foremost extent of biomass is attached to packing via large biofilms with increased resistance to mass transfer, at low phenol concentrations and liquid velocities. These intensified biodegradation systems aim at maximizing the mass transfer in PBCB for treatment of wastewater having high phenols concentration, without reducing the residence time of liquid or diluting the effluent.

Magnetic nanoarchitectures for cancer sensing, imaging and therapy

The use of magnetic nanoparticles for sensing and theranostics of cancer has grown substantially in the last decade. Since the pioneering studies, which reported magnetic nanoparticles for bio-applications more than fifteen years ago, nanomaterials have increased in complexity with different shapes (nanoflowers, nanospheres, nanocubes, nanostars etc.) and compositions (e.g. core-shell) of nanoparticles for an increase in the sensitivity (imaging or sensing) and efficiency through synergistic treatments such as hyperthermia and drug delivery. In this review, we describe recent examples concerning the use of magnetic nanoparticles for bio-applications, from the surface functionalization methods to the development of cancer sensors and nanosystems for magnetic resonance and other imaging methodologies. Multifunctional nanosystems (nanocomposites, core shell nanomaterials) for theranostic applications involving treatments such as hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, targeted drug delivery, and gene silencing are also described. These nanomaterials could be the future of medicine, although their complexity raises concerns about their safety.