Biomolecules, preservation

Liquid scrubbing is also known as one of the most efficient methods for very fine-particle collection, but they are gathered in the form of a suspension that can be rather used for nasal, pulmonary, or parenteral delivery. The suspension stability is often a delicate issue because no chemical or biological degradation shall occur, nor particle decantation, which requires the use of complex mixtures, including a buffer (especially for biomolecules), preservatives (antimicrobial, antioxidant, etc.), and surfactants. Several systems have been described (37,86-88) ... 

Mixed SAMs Molecular level control over the density and spatial distribution of functional groups on surfaces is important in a wide variety of applications, and, in particular, for biomedical applications. In many areas of medical and biological research, the functional groups mediate the immobilization of biomolecules to surfaces and their efficient immobilization not only requires that biomolecules preserve their activity after immobilization but also that biomolecules are presented on the surface at an optimal density and spatial distribution, such that efficient binding can occur between Ihe inunobilized biomolecules and target species in solution. At present, mixed SAMs offer the best option for controlling the density and spatial distribution of the biomolecules on surfaces. 

Similarly to the above-mentioned entrapment of proteins by biomimetic routes, the sol-gel procedure is a useful method for the encapsulation of enzymes and other biological material due to the mild conditions required for the preparation of the silica networks [54,55]. The confinement of the enzyme in the pores of the silica matrix preserves its catalytic activity, since it prevents irreversible structural deformations in the biomolecule. The silica matrix may exert a protective effect against enzyme denaturation even under harsh conditions, as recently reported by Frenkel-Mullerad and Avnir [56] for physically trapped phosphatase enzymes within silica matrices (Figure 1.3). A wide number of organoalkoxy- and alkoxy-silanes have been employed for this purpose, as extensively reviewed by Gill and Ballesteros [57], and the resulting materials have been applied in the construction of optical and electrochemical biosensor devices. Optimization of the sol-gel process is required to prevent denaturation of encapsulated enzymes. Alcohol released during the... 

Preparation of biohybrid enzyme-inorganic materials imposes strict chemical requirements in order that the chemical conditions of the biohybrid preparation respect the preservation of the biomolecule integrity. Knowing that enzymes are very... 

In this paper, the bulk material was obtained by impregnation of the silica host with GFP solution and nanosised by sonication, preserving the features of both the biomolecule and the mesoporous structure. An exhaustive physical chemical characterisation of the nanosized materials was performed by structural (X-Ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy), volumetric and optical (photoluminescence spectroscopy) techniques. 

Sol-gel technology has also been applied to enzyme immobilization. The preparation of the matrix that usually show a good mass transport, is carried out under relatively mild experimental conditions, so the integrity of the biomolecule is preserved. 

The following sections discuss some of the more common biotinylation reagents available for modification of proteins and other biomolecules. Each biotin derivative contains a reactive portion (or can be made to contain a reactive group) that is specific for coupling to a particular functional group on another molecule. Careful choice of the correct biotinylation reagent can result in directed modification away from active centers or binding sites, and thus preserve the activity of the modified molecule. 

It is often desirable to immobilize different biomolecules on different sensing elements in close proximity on the same nanophotonic sensor in the development of a multiplexed sensor. This is the case in the example of parallel ID photonic crystal resonators described in Sect. 16.4. Cross-contamination of biomolecules must be avoided in order to preserve high specificity. We have found that a combination of parylene biopatteming and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidics is a convenient means to immobilized multiple biomolecules in close proximity without cross-contamination as shown in Fig. 16.8. Parylene biopatteming is first used to expose only the regions of highest optical intensity of the nanosensor for functionalization. Second, a set of PDMS microfluidics is applied to the parylene-pattemed nanophotonic sensor, and the biomolecules to be attached... 

Tuross, N. and Dillehay, T.D. (1995). The mechanism of organic preservation at Monte Verde, Chile, and one use of biomolecules in archaeological interpretation. Journal of Field Archaeology 22 97-110. 

It used to be thought that the survival of organic remains was only to be expected in a limited number of unusual preservational environments, such as extreme aridity, cold, or waterlogging, or as a result of deliberate action such as mummification. With more sensitive analytical techniques, however, the preservation of a wide range of biomolecules has now been demonstrated in a much wider range of far less exceptional archaeological contexts. 

Process eco-efficiency conversion of biomass derived raw materials with high performance, stability and selectivity, and which preserve the complexity already preformed in biomolecules New catalytic reactor engineering solutions to improve energy and process efficiency Process simplification by effective integration of catalysis and separation in new advanced processes New catalysts able to cope with the natural variability in the quality of raw materials. 

Endo, K., D. Walton, R.A. Reyment, and G.B. Curry. 1995. Fossil intra-crystalline biomolecules of brachiopod shells Diagenesis and preserved geo-biological information. Organic Geochemistry 13 661-673. 

The real challenge could be in the high-throughput, highly parallel, micropreparation of this structurally diverse class of biomolecules in their native states. Low abundance proteins will most likely require enrichment prior to detection (Figure 1.13). Frotein complexes will need to be isolated, some along with associated membrane components, in order to preserve activity. It will also be important to be able to reassemble these multiprotein complexes in their native and active states. 

---