Thesis (PhD (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is growing interest to utilise xylan as speciality biopolymers in similar ways as high molecular weight polysaccharides such as starch and cellulose. The need to utilise xylan as alternative to cellulose and starch has increased because the cellulose and starch have many other competing uses. Unlike cellulose and starch, xylans are heteropolymers with higher degree of substitution and are of lower molecular mass and therefore, do not readily become insoluble to form hydrogels and biofilms. Consequently, xylans do not suit applications of starch and cellulose as speciality biodegradable additives and coatings in the food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and textile and many other industries. This study was conducted to develop an enzyme technology, based on recombinant α-L-arabinofuranosidase and purified α-D-glucuronidase with polymeric xylan substrate specificity, for controlled reduction of the solubility of water soluble polymeric xylan, leading to formation of insoluble nanohydrogels. Although xylan is available in abundance, a large proportion of it is currently wasted in lignocellulose process waste streams with little prospects for recovery and addition of value. Lignocellulosic materials including Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus patula, Bambusa balcooa (bamboo) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) bagasse (bagasse) found in South Africa were investigated as sources of water soluble xylan for enzyme modification. Two mild alkali-low temperature methods (alkali charge of < 14% and temperature of < 80ºC), one with ultrapurification denoted as the Hoije and the other with ethanol precipitation, denoted as Lopez method, were evaluated for their selective extraction of water soluble xylans from the specified lignocellulosic materials. The water soluble xylans were extracted from P. patula, bagasse, E. grandis and bamboo by the Hoije method with extraction efficiencies of 71.0, 66.0, 35.0 and 20.0% respectively. Using the Lopez method, the xylans from bagasse and E. grandis were extracted with extraction efficiencies of 28.0 and 12.0% respectively. The xylans extracted from P. patula, bamboo and bagasse were identified as arabinoglucuronoxylans, which were substituted with arabinose and 4-O-methyl-D- glucuronic acid (MeGlcA) side chains, whereas, the xylan extracted from E. grandis were identified as 4-O-methyl-β-D-glucuronoxylan (glucuronoxylan) substituted with MeGlcA groups on the main xylan chain. In addition, the glucuronoxylans contained some traces of arabinose and rhaminose sugar residues. The extracted xylan fractions had degree of polymerisation (DP) of > 10 and were water soluble, which suited the required properties of xylans for customised enzyme modification. The selective removal of the arabinose, MeGlcA and acetyl groups to create linear regions of xylose units in xylans that causes intra and inter-polymer bonding is considered to be the key process for reducing the solubility of water soluble xylans. The α-L-arabinofuranosidase of Aspergillus niger (AbfB) and α-D-glucuronidase of Schizophyllum commune (AguA) are special enzymes so far identified with the ability to selectively remove arabinose and MeGlcA side chains respectively, from water soluble xylans. Large scale application of the AbfB and AguA for reducing solubility of the water soluble xylans would require their extracellular production in large quantities and free of contamination from the xylan main chain degrading enzymes including the endo-1,4-β -xylanase. Selective production of the AbfB free of xylanase activity was achieved in recombinant A. niger D15 [abfB] strain under the transcriptional control of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter (gpdP) and glucoamylase terminator (glaAT). The recombinant AbfB was secreted extracellulary in 125 mL shake flasks and 10 L bioreactor fermentation cultures with volumetric activities of up to 10.0 and 8.0 nkat mL-1 respectively, against para-nitrophenol arabinofuranoside (pNPA). The secretion of the recombinant AbfB was growth associated and therefore, increased up to 2.5 times with addition of concentrate corn steep liquor (CCSL) as an additional source of nitrogen in the 2 x minimal standard cultivation media. The biomass specific activity of the recombinant AbfB against the pNPA substrate was approximately 366 nkat g-1 (dry weight basis). The recombinant AbfB displayed a single pure species band on 10% SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie blue and had an estimated molecular mass of 67 kDa. In addition, the recombinant AbfB showed optimal activity at 40-55ºC and pH 3.0-5.0 and was stable under cultivation, storage and operating conditions at temperatures between 30-60ºC and pH 3.0-6.0. Furthermore, the recombinant AbfB showed broad substrate specificity selectively removing arabinose side groups from low viscosity wheat and oat spelt arabinoxylans, larchwood arabinogalactan, debranched arabinan and arabiglucuronoxylans extracted from bagasse, bamboo and P. patula found in South Africa,. The recombinant AbfB was able to precipitate xylans extracted from bagasse, bamboo and oat spelt but not from P. patula. Over 95% of the activity of the recombinant AbfB against the pNPA was recyclable after selective hydrolysis of the xylan at 40ºC for 16 h. On the other hand, the purified AguA enzyme could only precipitate the birch glucuronoxylan but not the glucuronoxylan extracted from E. grandis and arabinoglucuronoxylans extracted from bagasse, bamboo and P. patula. The synergetic action of the recombinant AbfB and the purified AguA increased the removal of the arabinose side chains from bagasse xylan by 22% and from bamboo xylan by 33%, whereas, the removal of the MeGlcA side chains from bagasse xylan increased by only 5% and that from bamboo xylan decreased by 13%. The selective removal of the arabinose side chains from oat spelt, bagasse and bamboo xylans by the recombinant AbfB had higher apparent viscosity relative the corresponding untreated xylans. However, the apparent viscosity of both the treated and untreated xylans reduced with increased shear rate. The viscosity had an overall negative correlation with arabinose side chain removal reaching a minimum of 2.03 mPa.s for hydrolysis of oat spelt xylan that was performed for 9.0 h at a temperature of 45.8ºC with recombinant AbfB xylan specific dosage of 400.0 nkat g-1substrate . The alteration of the viscosity of the xylans by the selective removal of the side chains is of special interest in the production of speciality emulsifying, thickening and antifoaming agents. The optimal values for hydrolysis time, enzyme dosage and temperature for maximum degree of removal of arabinose side chains from oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB and of the removal of MeGlcA side chains from birch xylan by the purified AguA were determined by the Box-Benhken response surface method (RSM). The experimental region covered the xylan specific dosage for the recombinant AbfB between 18.0 and 540.0 nkatg-1substrate and for the purified AguA xylan between 2.0 and 18.0 μkatg-1substrate at temperatures between 30 and 50ºC and hydrolysis time between 1 and 16 h. The temperature, enzyme xylan specific dosage and hydrolysis time had significant effect (p<0.05) on both the selective removal of arabinose from oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB and the selective removal of MeGlcA from birch xylan by the purified AguA. However, the interaction of these hydrolysis parameters were significant (p<0.05) on only the removal of arabinose side chains from oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB. The optimal values for hydrolysis time, temperature and xylan specific dosage were estimated to be 14-16 h, 38-45ºC and 607.0 nkatg-1substrate respectively, for maximum removal of 43% of the available arabinose in oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB. Whereas, the optimal values for hydrolysis time, temperature and xylan specific dosage for maximum removal of 0.5% of the available MeGlcA side chains from the birch xylan by the purified AguA were estimated to be 11 h, 38ºC and 18.0 μkatg-1substrate respectively. The optimal values of the hydrolysis parameters for both the removal of the arabinose from oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB and of MeGlcA side chains from birch by the purified AguA could be predicted using quadratic models that fitted the response surface plots with regression coefficients of > 0.9. The effects of in situ selective removal of arabinose and MeGlcA side chains by AbfB and AguA respectively, from water soluble xylans, on their precipitation and adsorption onto cotton lint were investigated. The cotton lint was treated with xylans extracted from bagasse, bamboo, P. patula and E. grandis using the Hoije method in the presence of the recombinant AbfB, AguA and the cocktail of the two enzymes. The effects of in situ selective hydrolysis of model xylans including birch, oat spelt and H2O2 bleached bagasse and E. grandis xylan gel by the enzymes on their adsorption onto cotton lint were used for reference purposes. The purified AguA increased the adsorption of arabinoglucuronoxylans extracted from bagasse bamboo and P. Patula using the Hoije method onto cotton lint the most compared to the effect of the recombinant AbfB and the cocktail of the recombinant AbfB and purified AguA. The purified AguA increased the adsorption of the xylans extracted from bagasse and E. grandis xylans by 334 and 29% respectively, but decreased that of E. grandis xylan gel and H2O2 bleached bagasse xylan by 31 and 6% respectively. Similarly, the presence of the recombinant AbfB increased the adsorption of the bamboo, P. Patula and oat spelt xylans by 31, 44 and 900% respectively, but decreased the adsorption of the xylan extracted from bagasse and the H2O2 bleached bagasse xylan by 13 and 30% respectively. Furthermore, different xylan-cellulose interactions and water adsorption capacities of the cotton lint were observed with the in situ modification and adsorption of the xylans extracted from bagasse, bamboo, E. grandis and P. patula in the presence of the recombinant AbfB and purified AguA. Therefore, the enzyme aided adsorption of xylans could be used to alter or improve functional properties of cellulosic materials. The performance of enzymatically formed xylan nanohydrogels as encapsulation matrices for slow delivery of bioactive agents was evaluated. Insoluble xylan nanohydrogels formed by selective removal of arabinose side chains from water soluble oat spelt xylan by the recombinant AbfB were characterized for particle size distribution, surface charge (zeta potential), morphology stability and ability to encapsulate and slowly release the HRP. The enzymatically formed oat spelt xylan hydrogels were spherical in shape with particle sizes ranging from 18 nm to > 10 000 nm. The xylan nanohydrogels exhibited a negative zeta potential of up to -19 mV and displayed self assembling behaviour when formed at xylan concentrations of higher than 1.5% (w/v) and hydrolysis time beyond 17 h. The xylan concentration significantly (P < 0.05) influenced both the particle size and zeta potential of the oat spelt xylan nanohydrogels whereas the recombinant AbfB hydrolysis time was significant (P < 0.05) on the zeta potential. The oat spelt xylan nanohydrogels successfully encapsulated the HRP enzyme both during and after formation of the oat spelt xylan nanohydrogels and the release of the encapsulated HRP in active form, was sustained for a period of 180 min. Therefore, the xylan side chain removing enzymes have a role in preparation of biodegradable nanoencapsulation devices. Overall, the AbfB and AguA have presented a novel tool for functionalising water soluble xylans to be used as speciality additives, coating and implantation or encapsulation matrices, with reduced impact on the environment. This will advance processing and expand the product spectrum of lignocellulosic materials. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is ‘n toenemende belangstelling om spesialiteit biopolimere uit xilaan ontwikkel, en op soortgelyke wyse as hoë molekulêre massa polisakkariede soos stysel en sellulose te benut. Die behoefte om xilaan biodegradeerbare polimere as ‘n alternatief tot sellulose en stysel te gebruik neem toe omdat laasgenoemde baie ander kompeterende gebruike het. Anders as sellulose en stysel is uit xilaan heteropolimere met ‘n hoë graad van substitusie in die hoofketling met sygroepe en lae molekulêre massas, en raak daarom nie geredelik onoplosbaar om hidrojel en biofilms te vorm nie. Gevolglik is xilaan nie geskik vir toepassings van stysel en sellulose as spesialiteit biodegradeerbare bymiddels en bedekkings in die voedsel-, farmaseutiese-, pulp en papier-, tekstiel-, en vele ander industrieë nie. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer om ‘n ensiemtegnologie te ontwikkel gebaseer op rekombinante α-L-arabinofuranosidase en gesuiwerde α-D-glukuronidase met polimeriese xilaan substraat spesifisiteit, vir beheerde vermindering van die oplosbaarheid van wateroplosbare polimeriese xilaan wat lei tot die vorming van onoplosbare nanohidrojels. Alhoewel xilaan volop beskikbaar is, word ‘n groot deel daarvan tans vermors in afvalstrome uit lignosellulose prosessering, primêr verpulping, met min vooruitsigte vir herwinning en toevoeging van waarde. Lignosellulose materiaal wat in Suid-Afrika geproduseer word, insluitend Eucalyptus grandis (E. grandis), Pinus patula (P. patula), Bambusa balcooa (bamboes) en suikerriet (Saccharum officinarum L) (bagasse), is ondersoek as bronne van wateroplosbare xilaan vir ensiem modifikasie. Twee gematigde, lae temperatuur alkali-metodes (‘nalkali lading van < 14% en temperatuur van < 80°C), een met ultrasuiwering aangedui as Hoije en die ander met etanolpresipitasie aangedui as Lopez metode, is evalueer vir selektiewe ekstraksie van wateroplosbare xilaan vanuit die genoemde lignosellulose materiale. Die wateroplosbare xilaan is ge-ekshaheer vanuit P. patula, bagasse, E. grandis en bamboes met die Hoije metode met ekstraksie doeltreffendhede van 71.0, 66.0, 35.0, en 20.0%, onderskeidelik. Met die Lopez metode is xilaan vanuit bagasse en E. grandis geëkstraheer met ekstraksie doeltreffendhede van 28.0% en 12.0%, onderskeidelik. Die xilaan wat vanuit P. patula, bamboes, en bagasse ekstraheer is, is as arabinoglukuronoxilaan geïdentifiseer, wat met arabinose en 4-O-metiel-D glukuronsuur sykettings vervang is, terwyl die xilaan wat vanuit E. grandis ekstraheer is as 4-O-metiel--D-glukuronoxilaan (glukuronoxilaan), met substitusie met MeGlcA en asetiel-groepe op die hoof xilaan-ketting (ruggraat) is. Die glukuronoxilaan het verder spore van arabinose en rhaminose funksionele groepe bevat. Die geëkstraheerde xilaan fraksies het grade van polimerisasie > 10 gehad en was wateroplosbaar, wat die vereiste eienskappe van die xilaan vir doelgemaakte ensiem modifikasies bevredig het. Die selektiewe verwydering van die arabinose, MeGlcA, en asetiel-groepe om xilose eenhede sonder substitusie in polimeriese xilaan te vorm, wat intra- en inter-polimeer binding veroorsaak, word beskou as die belangrikste proses vir die vermindering van die oplosbaarheid van wateroplosbare xilaan. Die α-L-arabinofuranosidase van Aspergillus niger (AbfB) en α-D-glukuronidase van Schizophyllum commune (AguA) is spsialiteutsensieme wat tot dusver is met die vermoë om selektief die arabinose en MeGlcA sykettings, onderskeidelik, vanaf wateroplosbare xilaan te verwyder. Grootskaalse toepassing van die AbfB en AguA ensieme, vir die vermindering van die oplosbaarheid van wateroplosbare xilaan , sal ekstrasellulêre produksie deur mikrobes in groot hoeveelhede en vry van kontaminasie van die xilaan hoofketting degraderende ensieme insluitend die endo-1,4--xilanase vereis. Selektiewe produksie van die AbfB vry van xilanase aktiwiteit is verkry deur kultivering van rekombinante A. niger D15 [abfB], met transkipsie van die abfB-geen beheer deur die gliseraldehied-3-fosfaat dehidrogenase promotor (gpdp) en glukoamilase termineerder (glaAT). Die rekombinante AbfB ensiem is ekstrasellulêr geproduseer in 125 mL skudflesse en ‘n10 L bioreaktor fermentasiekulture met volumetriese aktiwiteite van tot 10.0 en 8.0 nkat mL-1, onderskeidelik, teen para-nitrofenol arabinofuranosied (pNPA). Die uitskeiding van die rekombinante AbfB was groei geassosieerd en het daarom tot 2.5 keer toegeneem met die byvoeging van gekonsentreerde mielieweekvloeistof as ‘n addisionele bron van stikstof in die 2 x minimale standaard kwekingsmedium. Die biomassa spesifieke aktiwiteit van die rekombinante AbfB teen die pNPA substraat was ongeveer 366 nkat g-1 (droë massa basis). Die rekombinante AbfB het ‘n enkele suiwer spesie band getoon op 10% SDS-PAGE gevlek met Coomassie blou en het ‘n beraamde molekulêre massa van 67 kDa gehad. Die rekombinante AbfB het verder optimale aktiwiteit by 40-55°C en pH 3.0-5.0 getoon en was stabiel onder kweking-, storing-, en bedryfstoestande by temperature tussen 30-60°C en pH 3.0-6.0. Die rekombinante AbfB het ook wye substraatspesifisiteit getoon om arabinose sy-groepe selektief te verwyder vanaf lae viskositeit koring-en hawerbiopolimere, lariks arabinogalaktaan, onvertakte arabinaan, en arabinoglukuronoxilaan biopolimere, geëkstraheer vanaf bagasse, bamboes en P.patula wat in Suid-Afrika aangetief word. Die rekombinante AbfB kon xilaan, ge-ekshaheer vanaf bagasse, bamboes en hawer onoplosbaar maak, maar die xilaan geëkstraheer vanaf P. patula nie. Meer as 95% van die aktiwiteit van die rekombinante AbfB teen die pNPA kon hersirkuleer word na selektiewe hidrolise van die xilaan by 40°C vir 16 h. Aan die ander kant kon die gesuiwerde AguA-ensiem slegs berkehout glukuronoxilaan onoplosbaar maak, maar nie glukuronoxilaan wat vanaf E. grandis geëkstraheer is of arabinoglukuronoxilaan wat vanaf bagasse, bamboes en P. patula geëkstraheer is nie. Die sinergistiese aksie van die rekombinante AbfB en die gesuiwerde AguA het die verwydering van die arabinose sykettings vanaf bagassexilaan met 22% vermeerder en met 33% in die geval van bamboesxilaan. Die verwydering van MeGlcA sykettings vanaf bagassexilaan is met slegs 5% vermeerder, terwyl dit met 13% verminder het in die geval van bamboesxilaan. Die selektiewe verwydering van die arabinose sykettings vanaf xilaan van hawer, bagasse, en bamboes deur die rekombinante AbfB het hoër skynbare viskositeit gehad relatief tot die ooreenstemmende onbehandelde xilaan . Die skynbare viskositeit van beide die behandelde en onbehandelde xilaan het egter verminder met toenemende skuiftempo. Die viskositeit het ‘n algehele negatiewe korrelasie met arabinose syketting verwydering gehad en het ‘n minimum van 2.03 mPa.s bereik vir hidrolise van hawerxilaan wat uitgevoer is vir 9.0 h by ‘n temperatuur van 45.8°C met rekombinante AbfB xilaan met ‘n spesifieke dosering van 400.0 nkat g-1substraat. Die wysiging van die viskositeit van die xilaan deur die selektiewe verwydering van die sykettings is van besondere belang in die produksie van spesialiteit emulsifisering, verdikking- en skuimweermiddels. Die optimale waardes vir hidrolisetyd, ensiemdosering en temperatuur vir maksimum graad van arabinose syketting verwydering vanaf hawerxilaan met die rekombinante AbfB, en van MeGlcA syketting verwydering vanaf berkehout xilaan met die gesuiwerde AguA, is vasgestel deur middel van die Box-Benhken responsie oppervlak metode. Die eksperimentele gebied het die xilaanspesifieke dosering met die rekombinante AbfB tussen 18.0 en 540.0 nkat g-1substraat en vir die gesuiwerde AguA xilaan tussen 2.0 en 18.0 μkat g-1substraat by temperature tussen 30 en 50°C en hidrolisetye tussen 1 en 16 h gedek. Die temperatuur, ensiem xilaan spesifieke dosering en hidrolise tyd het elk ‘n beduidende invloed (p<0.05) gehad op beide die selektiewe verwydering van arabinose vanaf hawerxilaan met die rekombinante AbfB en die selektiewe verwydering van MeGlcA vanaf berkehout xilaan met die gesuiwerde AguA. Die interaksie van hierdie hidroliseparameters was egter net beduidend (p<0.05) in die geval van arabinose syketting verwydering vanaf hawer xilaan met die rekombinante AbfB. Die optimale waardes vir die hidrolise tyd, temperatuur, en xilaan spesifieke dosering is beraam om gelyk aan 14-16 h, 38-45°C, en 607.0 nkat g-1substraat, onderskeidelik, te wees vir maksimale verwydering van 43% van die beskikbare arabinose in die hawer xilaan met die rekombinante AbfB. Die optimale waardes vir die hidrolise tyd, temperatuur en xilaan spesifieke dosering vir maksimale verwydering van 0.5% van die beskikbare MeGlcA sykettings vanaf die berkehout xilaan met die gesuiwerde AguA is beraam om gelyk aan 11 h, 38°C, en 18.0 μkat g-1substraat, onderskeidelik, te wees. Die optimale waardes van die hidrolise parameters, vir beide die verwydering van die arabinose vanaf hawer xilaan met die rekombinante AbfB en van MeGlcA sykettings vanaf berkehout met die gesuiwerde AguA, kon voorspel word deur gebruik te maak van kwadratiese modelle wat die responsie-oppervlak grafieke met regressie koeffisiënte > 0.9 gepas het. Die effek van in situ selektiewe verwydering van arabinose en MeGlcA sykettings met rekombinante AbfB en gesuiwerde AguA, onderskeidelik, vanaf wateroplosbare xilaan op hulle presipitasie en adsorpsie op katoen lint is ondersoek. Die katoenlint is behandel met xilaan ge-ekstraheer vanuit bagasse, bamboes, P. patula, en E. grandis deur gebruik te maak van die Hoije metode in die teenwoordigheid van die rekombinante AbfB, AguA, en ‘n mengsel van die twee ensieme. Die effek van in situ selektiewe hidrolise, deur die ensieme van model xilaan insluitende berkehout, hawer en H2O2-gebleikte bagasse en E. grandis xilaan jel, op hulle adsorpsie op katoen lint is gebruik vir verwysingsdoeleindes. Die gesuiwerde AguA het die adsorpsie van arabinoglukuronoxilaan , wat vanuit bagasse, bamboes en P. patula ekstraheer is deur middel van die Hoije metode, op katoenlint die meeste laat toeneem in vergelyking met die effek van die rekombinante AbfB en die mengsel van die rekombinante AbfB en die gesuiwerde AguA. Die gesuiwerde AguA het die adsorpsie van die xilaan wat vanuit bagasse en E. grandis ekstraheer is met 334 en 29%, onderskeidelik, laat toeneem, maar het die adsorpsie van E. grandis xilaanjel en H2O2 gebleikte bagasse xilaan met 31 en 6%, onderskeidelik, laat afneem. Op ‘n soortgelyke wyse het die teenwoordigheid van die rekombinante AbfB die adsorpsie van die bamboes, P. Patula en hawer xilaan met 31, 44, en 900%, onderskeidelik, laat toeneem, maar die adsorpsie van die xilaan ekstraheer vanuit bagasse en die H2O2 gebleikte bagasse xilaan met 13 en 30%, onderskeidelik, laat afneem. Verskillende xilaan-sellulose interaksies en water adsorpsie kapasiteite van die katoen lint is opgemerk met die in situ modifikasie en adsorpsie van die xilaan ekstraheer vanuit die bagasse, bamboes, E. grandis en P. patula in die teenwoordigheid van die rekombinante AbfB en gesuiwerde AguA. Die ensiem bygestaande adsorpsie van xilaan kon daarom gebruik word om die funksionele eienskappe van die sellulose materiaal aan te pas of te verbeter. Die wekverrigting van ensimaties gevormde xilaan nanohidrojels as enkapsuleringmatrikse vir stadige vrystelling van bioaktiewe middels is geevalueer. Onoplosbare xilaan nanohidrojels wat gevorm is deur selektiewe verwydering van arabinose sykettings vanaf wateroplosbare hawer xilaan met die rekombinante AfbA, is gekarakteriseer vir partikelgrootteverspreiding, oppervlaklading (zeta potensiaal), morfologiese stabiliteit, en die vermoë om die ramenas peroksidase te enkapsuleer en stadig vry te stel. Die ensimaties gevormde hawer xilaan hidrojels het ‘n sferiese vorm gehad met partikelgroottes wat gewissel het van 18 nm tot > 10 000 nm. Die xilaan nanohidrojels het ‘n negatiewe zeta potensiaal van tot -19 mV getoon, en het self-vormings gedrag vir partikels ten toon gestel indien dit by xilaankonsentrasies hoër as 1.5% (m/v) en hidrolise tye langer as 17 h gevorm is. Die xilaan konsentrasie het beide die partikelgrootte en die zeta potensiaal van die hawerxilaan nanohidrojels beduidend (P < 0.05) beïnvloed terwyl die rekombinante AbfB hidrolise tyd beduidend (P < 0.05) was op die zeta potensiaal. Die hawer xilaan nanohidrojels, het die ramenasperoksidase ensiem suksesvol enkapsuleer, beide gedurende en na die vorming van die hawer xilaan nanohidrojels en die vrystelling van die geënkapsuleerde ramenas peroksidase in aktiewe vorm is volgehou vir ‘n periode van 180 min. Die ensieme wat die syketting van die xilaan verwyder het, het dus ‘n rol in die voorbereiding van biodegadeerbare nano-enkapsulasie geedskap. In die geheel veskaf die rekombinante AbfB en gesuiwerde AguA ‘n nuwe stel manier voor om wateroplosbare xilaan te funksionaliseer om as spesialiteit bymiddels, bedekking, en inplanting of enkapsulasiematrikse gebruik te word met ‘n verminderde impak op die omgewing. Dit sal prosessering bevorder en die produkspektrum van lignosellulose materiale uitbrei.

A gelatina (GEL) é um biopolímero biodegradável e biocompatível que forma naturalmente coloides semissólidos ou hidrogéis em soluções aquosas. Sendo um polímero hidrofílico, a GEL possui propriedades estruturais e físico-mecânicas que a distinguem de polímeros hidrofílicos sintéticos. São essas características que inspiraram o desenvolvimento do presente trabalho. Para analisa-las foram desenvolvidos filmes e hidrogéis de GEL utilizando radiação ionizante mediante diferentes técnicas: irradiação por 60Co, feixe de elétrons (EB) e/ou EB pulsado. Na elaboração de filmes a base de GEL foram incorporados diferentes aditivos, tais como glicerol (GLY), álcool polivinílico (PVA), hidroxitolueno butilado (BHT), acrilamida e/ou fibra vegetal. Esse produto filmes a base de GEL foi analisado quanto às suas propriedades mecânicas, cor, absorção de água, entre outros; e irradiado com doses de 10 a 60 kGy, dependendo do aditivo. Na síntese radioinduzida de nano-hidrogéis de GEL, polietileno glicol (PEG) e a mistura (MIX) de ambos os aditivos, GEL e PEG, foram analisados a dimensão, massa molar e morfologia das nanopartículas. Houve aumento significativo da fração gel com o aumento da dose de radiação nas amostras de GEL/fibra. Os filmes a base de GEL com 10% PVA irradiados a 20 kGy apresentaram a maior resistência à perfuração. A adição de antioxidante BHT influenciou em algumas das propriedades dos filmes a base de GEL nas condições aplicadas. Em relação aos nano-hidrogéis houve redução do raio hidrodinâmico da MIX irradiada com 60Co de 68 ± 25 nm (2 kGy) para 35 ± 4 nm (5 kGy). Tanto nos filmes quanto nos nano-hidrogéis de GEL, a radiação mostrou ser uma ferramenta conveniente na modificação de materiais poliméricos. / The gelatin (GEL) is a biocompatible and biodegradable biopolymer, which naturally forms semi-solid colloids or hydrogels in aqueous solutions. As a hydrophilic polymer, the GEL has structural and physico-mechanical properties that distinguish it from synthetic hydrophilic polymers. The study of these properties led to the development of the present work. Thus, GEL-based films and hydrogels were developed using ionizing radiation technology by different techniques: irradiation with 60Co, electron beam (EB) and/or pulsed EB. The GEL based-films enriched with different additives, such as glycerol (GLY), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), acrylamide and/or vegetal fiber, were irradiated with doses from 10 to 60 kGy, depending on the additive; some parameters like mechanical properties, color, and water absorption were analyzed. In the radio-induced synthesis of GEL nanohydrogels, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the mixture (MIX) of additives, PEG and GEL, the size, molar mass and surface morphology of the nanohydrogels were analyzed. There was a significant increase of gel fraction with increase of the radiation dose for the GEL/fiber samples. The GEL based-films with 10% PVA irradiated at 20 kGy showed the highest puncture strength. The addition of antioxidant BHT affected on some GEL based-films properties on applied conditions. Regarding the nanohydrogels, there was a decrease of hydrodynamic radius of MIX irradiated with 60Co from 68 ± 25 nm (2 kGy) to 35 ± 4 nm (5 kGy). The radiation proved to be a convenient tool in the modification of polymeric materials for both, GEL films and hydrogels.

A gelatina (GEL) é um biopolímero biodegradável e biocompatível que forma naturalmente coloides semissólidos ou hidrogéis em soluções aquosas. Sendo um polímero hidrofílico, a GEL possui propriedades estruturais e físico-mecânicas que a distinguem de polímeros hidrofílicos sintéticos. São essas características que inspiraram o desenvolvimento do presente trabalho. Para analisa-las foram desenvolvidos filmes e hidrogéis de GEL utilizando radiação ionizante mediante diferentes técnicas: irradiação por 60Co, feixe de elétrons (EB) e/ou EB pulsado. Na elaboração de filmes a base de GEL foram incorporados diferentes aditivos, tais como glicerol (GLY), álcool polivinílico (PVA), hidroxitolueno butilado (BHT), acrilamida e/ou fibra vegetal. Esse produto filmes a base de GEL foi analisado quanto às suas propriedades mecânicas, cor, absorção de água, entre outros; e irradiado com doses de 10 a 60 kGy, dependendo do aditivo. Na síntese radioinduzida de nano-hidrogéis de GEL, polietileno glicol (PEG) e a mistura (MIX) de ambos os aditivos, GEL e PEG, foram analisados a dimensão, massa molar e morfologia das nanopartículas. Houve aumento significativo da fração gel com o aumento da dose de radiação nas amostras de GEL/fibra. Os filmes a base de GEL com 10% PVA irradiados a 20 kGy apresentaram a maior resistência à perfuração. A adição de antioxidante BHT influenciou em algumas das propriedades dos filmes a base de GEL nas condições aplicadas. Em relação aos nano-hidrogéis houve redução do raio hidrodinâmico da MIX irradiada com 60Co de 68 ± 25 nm (2 kGy) para 35 ± 4 nm (5 kGy). Tanto nos filmes quanto nos nano-hidrogéis de GEL, a radiação mostrou ser uma ferramenta conveniente na modificação de materiais poliméricos. / The gelatin (GEL) is a biocompatible and biodegradable biopolymer, which naturally forms semi-solid colloids or hydrogels in aqueous solutions. As a hydrophilic polymer, the GEL has structural and physico-mechanical properties that distinguish it from synthetic hydrophilic polymers. The study of these properties led to the development of the present work. Thus, GEL-based films and hydrogels were developed using ionizing radiation technology by different techniques: irradiation with 60Co, electron beam (EB) and/or pulsed EB. The GEL based-films enriched with different additives, such as glycerol (GLY), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), acrylamide and/or vegetal fiber, were irradiated with doses from 10 to 60 kGy, depending on the additive; some parameters like mechanical properties, color, and water absorption were analyzed. In the radio-induced synthesis of GEL nanohydrogels, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the mixture (MIX) of additives, PEG and GEL, the size, molar mass and surface morphology of the nanohydrogels were analyzed. There was a significant increase of gel fraction with increase of the radiation dose for the GEL/fiber samples. The GEL based-films with 10% PVA irradiated at 20 kGy showed the highest puncture strength. The addition of antioxidant BHT affected on some GEL based-films properties on applied conditions. Regarding the nanohydrogels, there was a decrease of hydrodynamic radius of MIX irradiated with 60Co from 68 ± 25 nm (2 kGy) to 35 ± 4 nm (5 kGy). The radiation proved to be a convenient tool in the modification of polymeric materials for both, GEL films and hydrogels.