Comparing Polymer-Supported TEMPO Mediators for Cellulose Oxidation and Subsequent Polyvinylamine Grafting

New strategy for grafting hydrophobization of lignocellulosic fiber materials with octadecylamine using a laccase/TEMPO system

The enzymatic functionalization of lignocellulosic fibers using oxidoreductases was successfully achieved by targeting lignin moieties as grafting sites on the surface. In this study, a novel strategy for hydrophobization of lignocelluloses was investigated, which involved the laccase/TEMPO-mediated grafting of octadecylamine (OA) onto both lignin and cellulose components of jute fabrics. The results showed that OA monomers were successfully grafted onto jute fabric surface using the laccase/TEMPO system with the grafting percentage and efficiency values of 0.712% and 10.571%, respectively. The primary hydroxyl groups of cellulose were oxidized by laccase/TEMPO to carbonyl groups, which were then coupled with amino-contained OA monomers via Schiff base reaction. The phenolic hydroxyl groups of lignin were transformed by laccase to radicals, on which OA molecules were grafted via Michael addition reaction. Consequently, grafted jute fabrics showed a considerable increase in the surface hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 125.9° and a wetting time of at least 2 h. Furthermore, there was an acceptable decrease in the breaking strength of jute fabrics by 13.60%, and the color of fabrics turned yellowish and reddish. This eco-friendly enzymatic process provides a new strategy for grafting hydrophobization and even functionalization of lignocellulosic fiber materials using amino compounds.

Nitroxide supported on nanometric metal oxides as new hybrid catalysts for selective sugar oxidation

A new series of supported organocatalysts, prepared by a simple method, were used for selective sugar oxidation. This approach is based on the immobilization of a nitroxide derivative through a carboxylic function on nanometric metal oxides (TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and CeO₂), allowing the recovery of the catalyst. These hybrid materials were carefully characterized by Diffuse Reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy (DRIFT), ThermoGravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller surface area measurements (B.E.T.), elemental and electrochemical analyses, showing different characteristics and behaviors depending on the nature of the metal oxide used. The activity of the supported nitroxide catalyst was evaluated on methyl α-d-glucoside oxidation, used as model reaction. In all cases, high catalytic activity was highlighted, with up to 25 times less nitroxyl radical required for complete conversion than under homogeneous conditions. The influence of several experimental conditions such as the use of phosphate buffer and recyclability of the catalyst were also investigated.

A recoverable dendritic polyamidoamine immobilized TEMPO for efficient catalytic oxidation of cellulose

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers of G1.0 and 2.0 were synthesized by the repeated Michael addition and ester aminolysis of ethylenediamine and methyl acrylate. Through the reductive amination reaction of primary amines in PAMAM and carbonyl groups in 4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-oxo-TEMPO), the water-soluble PAMAM immobilized TEMPO (PAMAM-TEMPO) was successfully prepared. The obtained PAMAM-TEMPO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-vis). PAMAM-TEMPO was used as catalyst instead of free TEMPO for selective catalytic oxidation of primary hydroxyl groups in cellulose with water as reaction medium. The results showed that the catalytic performance of G1.0 PAMAM-TEMPO with 28.8% TEMPO loading was equivalent to free TEMPO. After salting out the supernatant of oxidation mixture, PAMAM-TEMPO was recovered by extraction with N,N-dimethylformamide and reused for further oxidation cycles. No significant reduction in catalytic performance was found after 4 oxidation cycles. The recovery of PAMAM-TEMPO after each cycle was about 90%. By sonication of oxidized cellulose obtained with G1.0 PAMAM-TEMPO as catalyst, the individualized cellulose nanofibers with approximately 10 nm in diameter were successfully prepared. This is the first report on the use of immobilized TEMPO catalysts comparable to the performance of free TEMPO to oxidize cellulose in water.

Laccase-Mediated Grafting on Biopolymers and Synthetic Polymers: A Critical Review

Laccase-mediated grafting on lignocelluloses has gained considerable attention as an environmentally benign method to covalently modify wood, paper and cork. In recent decades this technique has also been employed to modify fibres with a polysaccharide backbone, such as cellulose or chitosan, to infer colouration, antimicrobial activity or antioxidant activity to the material. The scope of this approach has been further widened by researchers, who apply mediators or high redox potential laccases and those that modify synthetic polymers and proteins. In all cases, the methodology relies on one- or two-electron oxidation of the surface functional groups or of the graftable molecule in solution. However, similar results can very often be achieved through simple deposition, even after extensive washing. This unintended adsorption of the active substance could have an adverse effect on the durability of the applied coating. Differentiating between actual covalent binding and adsorption is therefore essential, but proves to be challenging. This review not only covers excellent research on the topic of laccase-mediated grafting over the last five to ten years, but also provides a critical comparison to highlight either the lack or presence of compelling evidence for covalent grafting.

Nitroxide radical polymers – a versatile material class for high-tech applications

A comprehensive summary of synthetic strategies for the preparation of nitroxide radical polymer materials and a state-of-the-art perspective on their latest and most exciting applications.

Relating Redox Properties of Polyvinylamine-g-TEMPO/Laccase Hydrogel Complexes to Cellulose Oxidation

The structure and electrochemical properties of adsorbed complexes based on mixtures of polyvinylamine-g-TEMPO (PVAm-T) and laccase were related to the ability of the adsorbed complexes to oxidize cellulose. PVAm-T10 with 10% of the amines bearing TEMPO moieties (i.e., DS = 10%), adsorbed onto gold sulfonate EQCM-D sensor surfaces giving a hydrogel film that was 7 nm thick, 89% water, and encasing laccase (200 mM) and TEMPO moieties (33 mM). For DS values >10%, all of the TEMPOs in the hydrogel film were redox-active in that they could be oxidized by the electrode. With hydrogel layers made with lower-DS PVAm-Ts, only about half of the TEMPOs were redox-active; 10% DS appears to be a percolation threshold for complete TEMPO-to-TEMPO electron transport. In parallel experiments with hydrogel complexes adsorbed onto regenerated cellulose films, the aldehyde concentrations increased monotonically with the density of redox-active TEMPO moieties in the adsorbed hydrogel. The maximum density of aldehydes was 0.24 μmol/m², about 10 times less than the theoretical concentration of primary hydroxyl groups exposed on crystalline cellulose surfaces. Previous work showed that PVAm-T/laccase complexes are effective adhesives between wet cellulose surfaces when the DS is >10%. This work supports the explanation that TEMPO-to-TEMPO electron transport is required for the generation of aldehydes necessary for wet adhesion to PVAm.

Synthesis, characterization and the paramagnetic properties of bottle-brush copolymers with shielding TEMPO radicals

Bottle-brush copolymers PHEMA-g-[(PAA-g-TEMPO)-b-PMA] and PHEMA-g-(PAA-g-TEMPO) with shielding TEMPO radicals were synthesized. The paramagnetic properties in bulk and solution were studied, and the results confirmed that the presence of the outer segment played an important role on the EPR spectra of copolymers.

"Click" Chemistry-Tethered Hyaluronic Acid-Based Contact Lens Coatings Improve Lens Wettability and Lower Protein Adsorption

Improving the wettability of and reducing the protein adsorption to contact lenses may be beneficial for improving wearer comfort. Herein, we describe a simple "click" chemistry approach to surface functionalize poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA)-based contact lenses with hyaluronic acid (HA), a carbohydrate naturally contributing to the wettability of the native tear film. A two-step preparation technique consisting of laccase/TEMPO-mediated oxidation followed by covalent grafting of hydrazide-functionalized HA via simple immersion resulted in a model lens surface that is significantly more wettable, more water retentive, and less protein binding than unmodified pHEMA while maintaining the favorable transparency, refractive, and mechanical properties of a native lens. The dipping/coating method we developed to covalently tether the HA wetting agent is simple, readily scalable, and a highly efficient route for contact lens modification.

Stable organic radical polymers: synthesis and applications

We present an overview of the synthetic strategies and methodologies for stable organic radical polymers, and summarise their applications in diverse areas.