A comparative study for petroleum removal capacities of the bacterial consortia entrapped in sodium alginate,sodium alginate/poly(vinyl alcohol),and bushnell haas agar

The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the degradation efficiencies of free and entrapped bacterial consortia(Staphylococcus capitis CP053957.1 and Achromobacter marplatensis MT078618.1)to different polymers such as Sodium Alginate(SA),Sodium Alginate/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)(SA/PVA),and Bushnell Haas Agar(BHA).In addition to SA and SA/PVA,which are cost-effective,non-toxic and have different functional groups,BHA,which is frequently encountered in laboratory-scale studies but has not been used as an entrapment material until now.Based on these,the polymers with different surface morphologies and chemical compositions were analyzed by SEM and FT-IR.While the petroleum removal efficiency was higher with the entrapped bacterial consortia than with the free one,BHA-entrapped bacterial consortium enhanced the petroleum removal more than SA and SA/PVA.Accordingly,the degradation rate of bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA was 2.039 day^(-1),SA/PVA was 1.560,SA was 0.993,the half-life period of BHA-entrapped bacterial consortia is quite low(t_(1/2)=0.339)compared with SA(t_(1/2)=0.444)and SA/PVA(t_(1/2)=0.697).The effects of the four main factors such as:amount of BHA(0.5,1,1.5,2,2.5,3 g),disc size(4,5,6,7,8 mm),inoculum concentration(1,2.5,5,7.5,10 mL),and incubation period on petroleum removal were also investigated.The maximum petroleum removal(94.5%)was obtained at≥2.5 mL of bacterial consortium entrapped in 2 g BHA with a 7 mm disc size at 168 h and the results were also confirmed by statistical analysis.Although a decrease was observed during the reuse of bacterial consortium entrapped in BHA,the petroleum removal was still above 50%at 10th cycle.Based on GC-MS analysis,the removal capacity of BHA-entrapped consortium was over 90%for short-chain n-alkanes and 80%for medium-chain n-alkanes.Overall,the obtained data are expected to provide a potential guideline in cleaning up the large-scale oil pollution in the future.Since there has been no similar study investigating petroleum removal with the bacterial consortia entrapped with BHA,this novel entrapment material can potentially be used in the treatment of petroleum pollution in advanced remediation studies.

Constructing a biofunctionalized 3D-printed gelatin/sodium alginate/chitosan tri-polymer complex scaffold with improvised biological andmechanical properties for bone-tissue engineering

Sodium alginate(SA)/chitosan(CH)polyelectrolyte scaffold is a suitable substrate for tissue-engineering application.The present study deals with further improvement in the tensile strength and biological properties of this type of scaffold to make it a potential template for bone-tissue regeneration.We experimented with adding 0%–15%(volume fraction)gelatin(GE),a protein-based biopolymer known to promote cell adhesion,proliferation,and differentiation.The resulting tri-polymer complex was used as bioink to fabricate SA/CH/GEmatrices by three-dimensional(3D)printing.Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed the microfibrous porous architecture of all the structures,which had a pore size range of 383–419μm.X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed the amorphous nature of the scaffold and the strong electrostatic interactions among the functional groups of the polymers,thereby forming polyelectrolyte complexes which were found to improve mechanical properties and structural stability.The scaffolds exhibited a desirable degradation rate,controlled swelling,and hydrophilic characteristics which are favorable for bone-tissue engineering.The tensile strength improved from(386±15)to(693±15)kPa due to the increased stiffness of SA/CH scaffolds upon addition of gelatin.The enhanced protein adsorption and in vitro bioactivity(forming an apatite layer)confirmed the ability of the SA/CH/GE scaffold to offer higher cellular adhesion and a bone-like environment to cells during the process of tissue regeneration.In vitro biological evaluation including the MTT assay,confocal microscopy analysis,and alizarin red S assay showed a significant increase in cell attachment,cell viability,and cell proliferation,which further improved biomineralization over the scaffold surface.In addition,SA/CH containing 15%gelatin designated as SA/CH/GE15 showed superior performance to the other fabricated 3D structures,demonstrating its potential for use in bone-tissue engineering.

Eco-friendly calcium alginate microspheres enable enhanced profile control and oil displacement

Polymer microspheres(PMs),such as polyacrylamide,have been widely applied for enhanced oil recovery(EOR),yet with environmental concerns.Here,we report a microfluid displacement technology containing a bio-based eco-friendly material,i.e.,calcium alginate(CaAlg)microspheres for EOR.Two dominant mechanisms responsible for EOR over Ca Alg fluid have been verified,including the microscopic oil displacement efficacy augmented by regulating capillary force(determined by the joint action of interfacial tension and wettability between different phases)and macroscopic sweep volume increment through profile control and mobility ratio reduction.This comprehensive effectiveness can be further impacted when the CaAlg microsphere is embellished ulteriorly by using appropriate amount of sodium dodecyl sulfonate(SDS).The core flooding and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)tests demonstrate that CaAlg-SDS microsphere can balance the interphase property regulation(wettability alteration and IFT reduction)and rheology properties,enabling simultaneous profile control and oil displacement.Excessive introduction of SDS will have a negative impact on rheological properties,which is not favored for EOR.Our results show that the involvement of 4-m M SDS will provide the best behavior,with an EOR rate of 34.38%.This cost-effective and environmentally-friendly bio-microspherebased microfluidic displacement technology is expected to achieve“green”oil recovery in future oilfield exploitation.

Physiological and Transcriptome Analysis Illuminates the Molecular Mechanisms of the Drought Resistance Improved by Alginate Oligosaccharides in Triticum aestivum L.

Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS)enhance drought resistance in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.),but the definite mechanisms remain largely unknown.The physiological and transcriptome responses of wheat seedlings treated with AOS were analyzed under drought stress simulated with polyethylene glycol-6000.The results showed that AOS promoted the growth of wheat seedlings and reduced oxidative damage by improving peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities under drought stress.A total of 10,064 and 15,208 differentially expressed unigenes(DEGs)obtained from the AOS treatment and control samples at 24 and 72 h after dehydration,respectively,were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites(phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,flavonoid biosynthesis),carbohydrate metabolism(starch and sucrose metabolism,carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms),lipid metabolism(fatty acid elongation,biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids,alpha-linolenic acid metabolism,cutin,suberine and wax biosynthesis),and signaling transduction pathways.The up-regulated genes were related to,for example,chlorophyll a-b binding protein,amylosynthease,phosphotransferase,peroxidase,phenylalanine ammonia lyase,flavone synthase,glutathione synthetase.Signaling molecules(including MAPK,plant hormones,H_(2)O_(2) and calcium)and transcription factors(mainly including NAC,MYB,MYB-related,WRKY,bZIP family members)were involved in the AOS-induced wheat drought resistance.The results obtained in this study help underpin the mechanisms of wheat drought resistance improved by AOS,and provides a theoretical basis for the application of AOS as an environmentally sustainable biological method to improve drought resistance in agriculture.

Fabrication of Core-Shell Hydrogel Bead Based on Sodium Alginate and Chitosan for Methylene Blue Adsorption

A novel core-shell hydrogel bead was fabricated for effective removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions.The core,made of sodium alginate-g-polyacrylamide and attapulgite nanofibers,was cross-linked by Calcium ions(Ca^(2+)).The shell,composed of a chitosan/activated carbon mixture,was then coated onto the core.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the grafting polymerization of acrylamide onto sodium alginate.Scanning electron microscopy images showed the core-shell structure.The core exhibited a high water uptake ratio,facilitating the diffusion of methylene blue into the core.During the diffusion process,the methylene blue was first adsorbed by the shell and then further adsorbed by the core.Adsorption tests showed that the coreshell structure had a larger adsorption capacity than the core alone.The shell effectively enhanced the adsorption capacity to methylene blue compared to the single core.Methylene blue was adsorbed by activated carbon and chitosan in the shell,and the residual methylene blue diffused into the core and was further adsorbed.

Application of alginate in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)represents a chronic inflammatory condition profoundly impacting the gastrointestinal tract.Its prevalence has markedly risen in both developed and developing nations over recent decades.Despite the absence of definitive etiological elucidation,therapeutic strategies predominantly revolve around pharmacological interventions aimed at symptom mitigation.Alginate(AG)is a polysaccharide of marine origin that has garnered significant attention due to its inherent biocompatibility,pH sensitivity,and cross-linking.Its exploration within drug delivery systems for IBD treatment stems from its natural sourcing,non-cytotoxic nature,and economic viability.Notably,AG demonstrates facile interpolymeric cross-linking,facilitating the formation of a cohesive network conducive to sustained drug release kinetics.AG-based carrier systems for sustained drug release,and targeted drug delivery have been widely studied.This article reviews the pathogenesis of IBD and the current drugs,AG-based drug delivery systems and their properties in alleviating IBD.The prospect of further development of AG in the field of biopharmaceutical and drug delivery is prospected.

Metal cation crosslinking of Ti O_2-alginate hybrid gels

In order to improve the substrate diffusion properties and stability of an immobilized enzyme alginate microgels modified with TiO2 nanoparticles were employed as the enzyme immobilizing support.Ionotropic gelation was applied for the preparation of hybrid gels while Ca2＋ Ce3＋ Ni2＋Cu2＋and Fe3＋were employed as the crosslinkers.Papain was selected as the model enzyme. UV-Vis spectroscopy was employed to investigate the activity of papain to evaluate kinetics and stability.Analysis results show that the highest affinity the lowest Michaelis-Menten constant Km =11.0 mg/mL and the highest stability are obtained when using Cu2＋as the crosslinker.The effect of the mass ratio of TiO2 to papain on the stability and leakage of papain is also investigated and the results show that 10∶1 TiO2∶papain is optimal because the proper use of TiO2 can reduce enzyme leakage and ensure enzyme stability.Preparing Cu/alginate/TiO2 hybrid gels via ionotropic gelation can provide a satisfactory diffusion capability and enzyme stability.

Decolorization of reactive dyes by laccase immobilized in alginate/gelatin blent with PEG

To achieve effective decolorization of reactive dyes,laccase immobilization was investigated.Laccase 0.2%(m/V)(Denilite IIS) was trapped in beads of alginate/gelatin blent with polyethylene glycol(PEG),and then the supporters were activated by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde.The results of repeated batch decolorization showed that gelatin and appropriate concentration of glutaraldehyde accelerated the decolorization of Reactive Red B-3BF(RRB);PEG had a positive effect on enzyme stability and led to an inc...

Comparative equilibrium studies of sorption of Pb(Ⅱ) ions by sodium and calcium alginate

The absorption of Pb(Ⅱ) ions from aqueous solution by different alginate compounds was studied in a batch sorption system.Water soluble sodium alginate and insoluble calcium alginate beads were investigated.The lead-binding capacity of both alginate compounds was highest within the pH range 6-8.The binding capacities and rates of Pb(lI) ions by alginate compounds were evaluated.The Langmuir,Freundlich,and Bruneaur,Emmet and Teller (BET) sorption models were applied to describe the isotherms and isotherm con...

Alginate oligosaccharide-induced intestinal morphology, barrier function and epithelium apoptosis modifications have beneficial effects on the growth performance of weaned pigs

Background: Alginate oligosaccharide(AOS), produced from alginate by alginate lyase-mediated depolymerisation, is a potential substitute for antibiotics and possesses growth-enhancing effects. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which AOS regulates porcine growth remain to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the AOS-mediated changes in the growth performance of weaned pigs by determining the intestinal morphology, barrier function,as well as epithelium apoptosis.Methods: Twenty-four weaned pigs were distributed into two groups(n = 12) and received either a basal diet(control group) or the same diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg AOS. On d 15, D-xylose(0.1 g/kg body weight)was orally administrated to eight randomly selected pigs per treatment, and their serum and intestinal mucosa samples were collected 1 h later.Results: Our results showed that inclusion of AOS in the diet for 2 wk increased(P < 0.05) the average daily body weight gain in weaned pigs. Notably, AOS supplementation ameliorated the intestinal morphology and barrier function, as suggested by the enhanced(P < 0.05) intestinal villus height, secretory immunoglobulin A content and goblet cell counts. Compared to the control group, AOS ingestion both decreased(P < 0.05) the total apoptotic percentage and increased(P < 0.05) the proportion of S phase in the intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, AOS not only up-regulated(P < 0.05) the B-cell lymphoma-2(BCL2) transcriptional level but also down-regulated(P < 0.05) the B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein(BAX), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(caspase-3) and caspase-9 transcriptional levels in the small intestine.Conclusions: In summary, this study provides evidence that supplemental AOS beneficially affects the growth performance of weaned pigs, which may result from the improved intestinal morphology and barrier function,as well as the inhibited enterocyte death, through reducing apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

Fabrication and Characterization of One Interpenetrating Network Hydrogel Based on Sodium Alginate and Polyvinyl Alcohol

One interpenetrating network hydrogel based on sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was synthesized by combining the raw materials of PVA and SA with the double physical crosslinking methods of freezing thawing and Ca2+ crosslinking. The PVA-SA composite hydrogel have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology, infrared spectroscopy for investigating the chemical interactions between PVA and SA, X-ray diffraction for studying the PVA-SA composite structure property and thermal gravimetric for understanding the PVA-SA composite thermal stability. The swelling behavior and the degradation rate of the PVA-SA composite hydrogel were studied in simulated gastrointestinal fluid. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and salicylic acid as the model drugs, the release behavior of the PVASA composite hydrogel on macromolecular protein drugs and small molecule drug were evaluated. The results showed that the water absorption and degradation ability of the PVA-SA composite hydrogel was much better compared to the pure SA hydrogel or pure PVA hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibited remarkable pH sensitivity and the network was stable in the simulated intestinal fluid for more than 24 h. With the advantages such as mild preparation conditions, simple method, less reagent and none severe reaction, the PVA-SA composite hydrogel is expected to be a new prosperous facile sustained drug delivery carrier.

Alginate and alginate composites for biomedical applications

Alginate is an edible heteropolysaccharide that abundantly available in the brown seaweed and the capsule of bacteria such as Azotobacter sp.and Pseudomonas sp.Owing to alginate gel forming capability,it is widely used in food,textile and paper industries;and to a lesser extent in biomedical applications as biomaterial to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration.This is evident from the rising use of alginate-based dressing for heavily exuding wound and their mass availability in the market nowadays.However,alginate also has limitation.When in contact with physiological environment,alginate could gelate into softer structure,consequently limits its potential in the soft tissue regeneration and becomes inappropriate for the usage related to load bearing body parts.To cater this problem,wide range of materials have been added to alginate structure,producing sturdy composite materials.For instance,the incorporation of adhesive peptide and natural polymer or synthetic polymer to alginate moieties creates an improved composite material,which not only possesses better mechanical properties compared to native alginate,but also grants additional healing capability and promote better tissue regeneration.In addition,drug release kinetic and cell viability can be further improved when alginate composite is used as encapsulating agent.In this review,preparation of alginate and alginate composite in various forms(fibre,bead,hydrogel,and 3D-printed matrices)used for biomedical application is described first,followed by the discussion of latest trend related to alginate composite utilization in wound dressing,drug delivery,and tissue engineering applications.

Preparation, Properties and Mechanism of Inhomogeneous Calcium Alginate Ion Cross-linking Gel Microspheres

Inhomogeneous calcium alginate ion cross\|linking gel microspheres, a novel ion absorbent, were prepared by dropping a sodium alginate solution to a calcium chloride solution via an electronic droplet generator. Calcium alginate microspheres have uniform particle sizes, a smooth surface and a microporous structure. The electrode probe reveals the inhomogeneous distribution of calcium ions with the highest concentration on the surface, and the lowest concentration in the cores of the spheres. As a novel ion adsorbent, calcium alginate gel microspheres have a lower limiting adsorption mass concentration, a higher enrichment capacity and a higher adsorption capacity for Pb 2+ than usual ion exchange resins. The highest percentage of the adsorption is 99 79%. The limiting adsorption mass concentration is 0 0426 mg/L. The adsorption capacity for Pb 2+ is 644 mg/g. Calcium alginate gel microspheres have a much faster ion exchange velocity than D418 chelating resin and D113 polyacrylate resin. The moving boundary model was employed to interpret the ion exchange kinetics process, which indicates that the ion exchange process is controlled by intraparticle diffusion of adsorbable ions. So the formation of inhomogeneous gel microspheres reduces the diffusion distance of adsorbable ions within the spheres and enhances the ion exchange velocity. Alginate has a higher selectivity for Pb 2+ than for Ca 2+ and the selectivity coefficient K Pb Ca is 316. As an ion cross\|linking gel, calcium alginate inhomogeneous microspheres can effectively adsorb heavy metal Pb 2+ at a higher selectivity and a higher adsorption velocity. It is a novel and good ion adsorbent.

THERMAL DEGRADATION AND FLAME RETARDANCY OF CALCIUM ALGINATE FIBERS

Calcium alginate fibers were prepared by wet spinning of sodium alginate into a coagulating bath containing calcium chloride.The thermal degradation and flame retardancy of calcium alginate fibers were investigated with thermal gravimetry(TG),X-ray diffraction(XRD),limiting oxygen index(LOI) and cone calorimeter(CONE).The results show that calcium alginate fibers are inherently flame retardant with a LOI value of 34,and the heat release rate(HRR),total heat release(THR),CO and CO_2 concentrations during com...

Sodium Alginate/Carboxyl-Functionalized Graphene Composite Hydrogel Via Neodymium Ions Coordination

A facile method for the preparation of sodium alginate（SA）/carboxyl-functionalized graphene（G-COOH）composite hydrogel was developed. Based on the coordination ability of lanthanide ions to the carboxyl groups, a series of hydrogel derived from different ratios of SA and G-COOH was fabricated by neodymium（Nd3＋） ions coordination. A relatively uniform layered structure was recorded by SEM at the interior of SA/G-COOH hydrogel. Several parameters such as water content, swelling ratio（SR）, tensile test and solvent resistance were also investigated. The SA/G-COOH composite hydrogel showed excellent mechanical strength, and the tensile strength of SA/G-COOH composite hydrogel reaches 53.72 MPa at high water content. Due to the coordination ability of Nd3＋ ions, the hydrogel also exhibited an excellent solvent resistance and stability.

Effect of Sodium Alginate Concentration on Membrane Strength and Permeating Property of Poly-l-arginine Group Microcapsule

A novel poly-/-arginine microcapsule was prepared due to its nutritional function and pharmacological efficacy. A high-voltage electrostatic droplet generator was used to make uniform microcapsules. The results show that the membrane strength and permeating property are both remarkably affected with the changes of sodium alginate concentration. With the sodium alginate concentration increasing, gel beads sizes increase from 233μm to 350μm, release ratio is also higher at the same time, but the membrane strength decreases.

Efficacy of chitosan and sodium alginate scaffolds for repair of spinal cord injury in rats

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of motor and sensory pathways and spontaneous regeneration of adult mammalian spinal cord neurons is limited. Chitosan and sodium alginate have good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and are suitable to assist the recovery of damaged tissues, such as skin, bone and nerve. Chitosan scaffolds, sodium alginate scaffolds and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds were separately transplanted into rats with spinal cord hemisection. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores and electrophysiological results showed that chitosan scaffolds promoted recovery of locomotor capacity and nerve transduction of the experimental rats.Sixty days after surgery, chitosan scaffolds retained the original shape of the spinal cord. Compared with sodium alginate scaffolds- and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds-transplanted rats, more neurofilament-H-immunoreactive cells （regenerating nerve fibers） and less glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive cells （astrocytic scar tissue） were observed at the injury site of experimental rats in chitosan scaffold-transplanted rats. Due to the fast degradation rate of sodium alginate, sodium alginate scaffolds and composite material scaffolds did not have a supporting and bridging effect on the damaged tissue. Above all, compared with sodium alginate and composite material scaffolds, chitosan had better biocompatibility, could promote the regeneration of nerve fibers and prevent the formation of scar tissue,and as such, is more suitable to help the repair of spinal cord injury.

Alginate oligosaccharides preparation, biological activities and their application in livestock and poultry

Alginate oligosaccharides(AOS), belonging to the class of functional marine oligosaccharides, are low-molecular polymers linked by β-1,4-mannuronic acid(M) and α-1,4-guluronic acid(G), which could be classically obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of alginate. With low viscosity and good water solubility, as well as anti-oxidant, immune regulation, anti-bacterial and antiinflammatory activities, AOS have been widely used in medical science and functional food, green agriculture and other fields. As new bio-feed additives, AOS have broad potential applications in animal husbandry. In this review, the sources of alginate, chemical structure and preparation methods of AOS, and their biological activities and application in livestock and poultry are summarized. We expect this review could contribute to lay a foundation of application and further research for AOS in livestock and poultry.

CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF THE SURFACE OF CALCIUM ALGINATE GEL BEADS

The chemical modification of the surface of calcium alginate gel beads (CAGB) via grafting copolymerization with vinyl acetate (VAc) was studied. The optimum reaction conditions with activation and graft copolymerization two steps were explored. First, 5 grams CAGB with 2.5 mm initial diameter was initiated with 0.0493 mol/L K2S2O8 at 51 °C for 30 min in 15 mL 1 % PVA/H2O. Then 4.34 moi/L VAc was added dropwise and the reaction was allowed to proce at 48 °C for 3 h. The grafting efficiency could come up to 30%. It was found the stability of modified CAGB in the air and in electrolyte solutions was greatly improved.

Synthesis of phosphate-embedded calcium alginate beads for Pb(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) sorption and immobilization in aqueous solutions

The phosphate-embedded calcium alginate beads were successfully synthesized based on sodium alginate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen carbonate. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted to characterize the morphology and structure of the phosphate-embedded calcium alginate beads. The effects of pH and the initial concentration of the metal ions on Pb(II) and Cd(II) sorption by the beads were investigated. The optimal pH values for Pb(II) and Cd(II) sorption are 4.0 and 5.5, respectively. The optimal initial concentrations of Pb(II) and Cd(II) are 200 mg/L and 25 mg/L, correspondingly, and the removal efficiencies are 94.2% and 80%,respectively. The sorption mechanism is that the heavy metal ions accessed the beads firstly due to the large surface area, combinedwith OH?, and then precipitated with phosphate radical, which was proven by FTIR and XRD. The sorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) isfitted to Langmuir isotherm model with R2 values of 0.9957 and 0.988, respectively. The sorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) are263.16 mg/g and 82.64 mg/g, respectively. The results indicate that the phosphate-embedded calcium alginate beads could be appliedto treating Pb(II)/Cd(II)-containing wastewater and it could be implied that the synthesized beads also could be used as a kind of soil ameliorant for remediation of the heavy metal contaminated paddy soil.