Hydrogel-Based Microreactors Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymer networks that swell in water and have diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, including tissue engineering. According to a study cited in reference [216], these materials offer significant advantages over solid matrices made of water-insoluble organic polymers. A well-hydrated environment provides stability and function for immobilized biological cargo, such as enzymes and cells, as noted in reference [218]. A wide range of natural and synthetic polymers can be used to engineer diverse properties into the hydrogel matrices, such as cell adhesiveness and low-fouling behavior, as mentioned in reference [219]. Hydrogel immobilization of biological materials is useful because the pores within the gel are typically 1-10 nm in diameter, allowing the entry of small molecules like enzyme substrates while preventing relatively large entities such as cells and enzymes, as explained in reference [220]. Due to their biocompatibility and high water absorbability, hydrogels are used in many biological applications, including controlled drug delivery, biosensors, contact lenses, and enzyme immobilization, as stated in reference [221]. Hydrogel Microreactors with Immobilized Enzymes
Fejerskov and coworkers performed a systematic investigation on the assembly of surface adhered microstructured (μS) PVA hydrogels as excellent matrices for various biotechnological applications (citation). The varying conditions for polymer coagulation are considered as a tool for assembling μS hydrogels with tunable Young’s moduli, specifically in the range previously shown to generate (sub-)cellular responses in cultured mammalian cells.
Once the recombinant plasmid was obtained, it was then inserted into E. coli cells through transformation. From a successful transformation, we expected the bacterial cells to translate the inserted EGFP sequence into its protein form. The bacteria cultures were plated on petri dishes containing growth supplement, Luria Broth (LB), an antibiotic: Kanamycin, and IPTG which induced the fluorescence property within successfully transformed bacterial colonies. Different variants of the petri dishes were also included as control and unknown.
al. (1994) explain that a complementary DNA for GFP produces a fluorescent product when expressed in E. coli cells as the expression of GFP can be used to monitor gene expression and protein localization in living things. In this experiment, the heat shock method will be used to deliver a vector (plasmid) of GFP to transform and grow E. coli bacteria. Four plates containing Luria Bertani (LB) broth and either –pGLO or +pGLO will have E. coli bacteria added to it. The plate containing –pGLO (no pGLO) and LB will show growth as ampicillin will be present killing bacteria but no glowing because no arabinose will be present for glowing to be activated, the same result will be seen in the plate containing +pGLO, LB and ampicillin.
Ligating the EGFP cDNA into a pET41a (+) plasmid in order to create recombinant expression plasmids and run these ligations through gel electrophoresis to visualize the DNA and check the success of the ligations. Five ligation reactions were generated, two actual ligations and three controls, with a total final volume of 20uL each. NcoI and NotI are restriction endonucleases whose purpose are to reduce non-recombinant plasmids from forming and to prevent undesired rearrangements during ligation.
For 8 weeks of vacation work I have been looking at preparing and characterizing nanoparticulate systems to encapsulate the antimicrobial drug mupirocin. Specifically polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes were investigated.
E. coli produces very rapidly; a single microscopic cell can divide to form a visible colony with millions of cells overnight (phschool.com). It is the preferred bacteria in most laboratories because it grows fast and easy, and can obtain energy from a wide variety of sources. Since the birth of molecular cloning, E. coli has been used as a host for introduced DNA sequences (biotechlearn.org.nz). In 1973, Boyer and Cohen showed that two short pieces of DNA could be cut and pasted together, and returned to E.coli.
The shape of the molecules is changing and so the enzyme molecules can no longer fit into the gaps in the substrate that they need to and therefore the enzymes have de – natured and can no longer function as they are supposed to and cannot do their job correctly. Changing the temperature: Five different temperatures could be investigated. Water baths were used to maintain a constant temperature. Water baths were set up at 40 degrees, 60 degrees and 80 degrees (Celsius). Room temperature investigations were also carried out (20 degrees).
Dialysis tubing is made from regenerated cellulose or cellophane, and is used in clinical circumstances to ensure that molecule have a filtered flow, and that larger solute molecules do not enter the dialysis tubing (Alberts, 2002). Like a cell membrane, dialysis tubing has a semi-permeable membrane, which allows small molecule to permeate through the membrane. Thus, the dialysis tubing mimics the diffusion and osmosis processes of the cell membrane (Alberts, 2002). Although the dialysis tubing has a semi-permeable membrane, which mimics a cell, its structure is different. The me...
The enzymes have active sites on their surfaces to allow the binding of a substrate through the help of coenzymes to form enzyme-substrate complex. The chemical reaction thus converts the substrate to a new product then released and the catalytic cycle proceeds.
Enzymes have been used in research, mainly because of their ability to facilitate reactions without being changed themselves as well as their ability to speed up these reactions, which would otherwise take a much longer period of time to complete. And it is these two features that compel me to conduct further research into the applications of enzymes.
Towbin H, Staehelin T, Gordon J. "Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some applications" Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Sep;76(9):4350-4.
Aerogel was discovered in the late 1930’s by chemist Samuel Stephens Kistler. He accomplished this by the process of supercritical fluid drying. A supercritical fluid is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical poi...
Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to explore the different factors which effect enzyme activity and the rates of reaction, such as particle size and temperature.
Rubber dam is a kind of hydraulic structure made of a rubber bag which can be inflated with suitable fluid to suitable size to retain water and can be used for hydraulic management. To be strict, it is a high strength fabric with rubber anchored to the concrete basement which forms a balloon like bag to stopover the flow of water. The purposes of Rubber Dam are to control the streams, flood control, irrigation, water supply, tidal barrier, environment improvement, retain water for agricultural and industrial uses. Inflatable Rubber Dams are being successfully used in many parts of the world and more and more are being installed every year. Nearly 2000 Rubber Dams are planted and are operational till date across the globe. In Bangladesh xx Rubber Dams have been installed. Rubber Dam is becoming more and more important in recent days for its advantages, low construction cost and less impact to the environment. Still construction of inflatable rubber dam in large scale is ambitious although many useful and effective modifications have been made in recent days for successful application. The construction method and design of the Rubber Dam still follows the original design of a single Rubber Bag Component and it is suggested that Inflatable Rubber Dam should have spans less than 100 meters.. In this paper it has been discussed about solutions of the design problems arising in large scale Rubber Dam construction. The objective is to find an efficient and safe design for Inflatable Rubber Dam for small and big projects while keeping it as cost effective as possible.
This is what offers it its sticky nature. Gels have various other ingredients in them such as polymers, plasticizers and wax. A lot of also consist of parabens as well as parabens have actually been shown to be unsafe to the body.
Patients may take an oral dose of ibuprofen to treat mild to moderate pain and inflammation. It is present in a caplet, tablet, capsule or suspension form available for oral use. “For self-medication in paediatric patients, ibuprofen is commercially available as oral drops, an oral suspension, chewable tablets, and film-coated tablets.” A daily dose of 1.2-1.8g is recommended, however, a lower dose of 600mg to 1.2g may also prove to be effective. The dosage may be increased if the pain proves to be more severe. “In the UK, the maximum daily dose is 2.4g daily whereas in the US the maximum is 3.2g daily.” For once or twice-a-day dosage, patients may prefer to use the modified-release ibuprofen, although for this formulation, with different preparations dosage may vary. “Patients with rheumatoid arthritis generally require higher doses of ibuprofen than those with osteoarthritis.”