Structural characterization of glutaraldehyde crosslinked starch-based nanofibrous film and adsorption improvement for oyster peptide flavor.

The inferior hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of starch-based nanofibrous films significantly restrict their practical application. In view of this, this study prepared octenylsuccinylated starch-pullulan nanofibrous films using electrospinning and glutaraldehyde (GTA) gas-phase crosslinking. After GTA crosslinking, the starch-based nanofibrous films remained white, randomly oriented, smooth, and droplet-free. As the crosslinking time increased from 0 h to 24 h, the mean fibrous diameter augmented from 157.34 nm to 238.66 nm, and the water contact angle rose from 24.30° to 52.49°. Meanwhile, their tensile strength and thermal stability grew, and the mean pore area and elongation at break abated with changes in function groups. The crosslinked starch-based nanofibrous films exhibited an enhanced adsorption capacity for alcohols, ethers, esters, hydrocarbons, and N-compounds of oyster peptides. Correlation analysis shows that the adsorption capacity of the starch-based nanofibrous films was positively correlated with mean fibrous diameter and water contact angle and negatively correlated with mean pore area. These results provide a theoretical basis for the practical application of crosslinked starch-based nanofibrous film materials in deodorization.

Thermally Degradable Water Diffusion Barrier Assembled by Gelatin and Beeswax toward Edible Electronics.

Making ingestible devices edible facilitates diagnosis and therapy inside the body without the risk of retention; however, food materials are generally soft, absorb water molecules, and are not suitable for electronic devices. Here, we fabricated an edible water diffusion barrier film made by gelatin-beeswax composites for the encapsulation of transient electronics. Hydrophobic beeswax and hydrophilic gelatin are inherently difficult to mix; therefore, we created an emulsion simply by raising the temperature high enough to melt the materials and vigorous stirring them. As they cool, the beeswax with a relatively high solidification temperature aggregates and forms microspheres, which increases the gelatin gel's viscoelasticity and immobilizes the emulsion structure in the film. The thermoresponsive gelatin imparts degradability to the barrier and its stickiness also enables transfer of metal patterned electronics. Furthermore, we designed an edible resonator on the film and demonstrated its operation in an abdominal phantom environment; the resonator was made to be degradable in a warm aqueous solution by optimizing the composition ratio of the gelatin and beeswax. Our findings provide insight into criteria for making transient electronics on hydrophilic substrates with hydrophobic water diffusion barriers. This proof-of-concept study expands the potential of operating edible electronics in aqueous environments in harmony with the human body and nature.

Anti-Biofilm Perspectives of Propolis against Staphylococcus epidermidis Infections.

Staphylococcus epidermis has emerged as the main causative agent of medical device-related infections. Their major pathogenicity factor lies in its ability to adhere to surfaces and proliferate into biofilms, which increase their resistance to antibiotics. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the use and the mechanism of action of an ethanolic extract of Spanish propolis (EESP) as a potential alternative for preventing biofilm-related infections caused by S. epidermidis. The chemical composition of propolis is reported and its antibacterial activity against several strains of S. epidermidis with different biofilm-forming capacities evaluated. The influence of sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of EESP on their growth, physicochemical surface properties, adherence, and biofilm formation were studied. EESP interferes with planktonic cells, homogenizing their physicochemical surface properties and introducing a significant delay in their growth. The adherence and biofilms at the EESP concentrations investigated were decreased up to 90.5% among the strains. Microscopic analysis indicated that the planktonic cells that survived the treatment were the ones that adhere and proliferate on the surfaces. The results obtained suggest that the EESP has a high potential to be used as an inhibitor of both the adhesion and biofilm formation of S. epidermidis.

Engineering both intrinsic characteristic and local microenvironment of platinum sites toward highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

The optimization of the adsorption of oxygen-containing intermediates on platinum (Pt) sites of Pt-based electrocatalysts is crucial for the oxygen reduction reaction process. Currently, a large amount of researches mainly focus on modifying the bulk structure of the electrocatalysts, however, the vital role of solvent effect on the phase interfaces is often overlooked. Here, we successfully developed an electrocatalyst in which the ordered PtCo alloy anchors on the cobalt (Co) single-atoms/clusters decorated support (Co1,nNC) and its surface is further optimized using hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL). Experimental studies and theoretical calculations indicate that compressive stress on Pt lattice contributed by intrinsic structure and the local hydrophobicity caused by IL on the surface can suppress the stabilization of *OH on Pt. This synergistic effect affords outstanding catalytic performance, exhibiting a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.916 V vs. RHE and a mass activity (MA) of 1350.3 mA mgPt-1 in 0.1 mol/L perchloric acid (0.1 M HClO4) electrolyte, much better than the commercial Pt/C (0.849 V vs. RHE and 145.5 mA mgPt-1 for E1/2 and MA, respectively). Moreover, the E1/2 of IL-PtCo/Co1,nNC only lost 5 mV after 10,000 cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycles due to a strong and synergistic contact of the intermetallic PtCo alloy with the Co1,nNC support and IL. This research provides an effective method for designing efficient electrocatalysts by combining intrinsic structure and surface modification.

A demethylated lignin improved PVA-based supramolecular plastic with tough, degradable, and water-resistant performances.

Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), as an excellent degradable plastic feedstock, is limited by its diminishing stability in wet environment, low strength, thermal instability and nonopaque properties. In response to these concerns, a PVA/demethylated lignin-based supramolecular plastic (DPVA-HA-Fe-5) was designed and produced from PVA, demethylated lignin (DL), humic acid (HA) and Fe3+ ions via a simple casting method. As compared with pure PVA plastic, the tensile strength of DPVA-HA-Fe-5 were increased by 411 % to 410.61 MPa, and the breaking strain was increased by 149 % to 239.47 %. Notably, the hydrophobicity of DPVA-HA-Fe-5 was also significantly improved. Although in highly humid environment (stored in RH = 100 % for 10 days) or in alkaline organic solvent (stored in pyridine for 3 h), DPVA-HA-Fe-5 also showed excellent mechanical strengths of 302.9 and 222.99 MPa, respectively, which are equivalent or even superior to the most of commercial petroleum-based plastics. Moreover, the prepared plastics showed an outstanding UV resistance and shading performance, and about 98.3 % protection against ultraviolet radiation B rays and 90.7 % protection against visible light were obtained. In short, the introduction of lignin to improve the performance of PVA-based plastic is a feasible method, and it could facilitate the development of high-value utilization of lignin.

Infrared Spectroscopy of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Protein: from Receptor Binding Domain to Spike Protein.

Spike (S) glycoprotein is the largest structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus and the main one involved in anchoring of the host receptor ACE2 through the receptor binding domain (RBD). S protein secondary structure is of great interest for shedding light on various aspects, from functionality to pathogenesis, finally to spectral fingerprint for the design of optical biosensors. In this paper, the secondary structure of SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its constituting components, namely RBD, S1 and S2 regions, are investigated at serological pH by measuring their amide I infrared absorption bands through Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. Experimental data in combination with MultiFOLD predictions, Define Secondary Structure of Proteins (DSSP) web server and Gravy value calculations, provide a comprehensive understanding of RBD, S1, S2, and S proteins in terms of their secondary structure content, conformational order, and interaction with the solvent.

Study on the Aging Characteristics of a ±500 kV Composite Dead-End Insulator in Longtime Service.

Composite insulators have been widely used in power grids due to their excellent electrical-external-insulation performance. Long-term operation at high voltage levels accelerates the aging of composite insulators; however, there is a scarcity of research on aged composite insulators operating at 500 kV for over ten years. In this paper, the mechanical, electrical, and microscopic properties were tested on different sheds along a 500 kV composite insulator that had been running for 18 years. Additionally, the results were compared with a new insulator and the standards for live insulator operation. The results showed that the aging of the high-voltage end of composite insulators was the most serious. The results of the physical properties test indicated that the insulator's hardness was compliant but its tensile strength and break elongation did not meet standards. Under wet conditions, the pollution flashover voltage decreases by about 50% compared to the new insulator. Combined with the microscopic test results, the shed skeleton structure could be damaged and the filler might be lost during the aging process of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The hardness of the insulator would increase by the precipitation of inorganic silicon; however, inorganic silicon might destroy the hydrophobicity and other properties of insulator sheds. These results can provide theoretical references for insulator life prediction and operation protection.

Comprehensive Analysis of Wettability in Waterproofed Gas Diffusion Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

In polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), the gas diffusion layer (GDL) is crucial for managing the flooding tolerance, which is the ability to remove the water produced during power generation from the assembled cell. However, an improved understanding of the properties of GDLs is required to develop effective waterproofing strategies. This study investigated the influence of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content on the pore diameter, porosity, wettability, water saturation, and flooding tolerance of waterproofed carbon papers as cathode GDLs in PEFCs. The addition of minimal PTFE (∼6 wt %) to carbon paper provided external waterproofing, whereas internal waterproofing was achieved at a higher PTFE content (∼13 wt %). However, excessive PTFE (∼37 wt %) led to macropore collapse within the carbon paper, reducing fuel cell performance. Although PTFE addition was expected to improve the flooding tolerance, operando synchrotron X-ray radiography revealed that the water saturation level in carbon paper increased with increasing PTFE content. These findings provide a benchmark for assessing whether GDLs meet the flooding tolerance requirements of PEFCs and may be applicable to waterproofed GDLs in electrochemical devices for water and CO2 electrolysis.

Chitosan-Surfactant Composite Nanocoatings on Glass and Zinc Surfaces Prepared from Aqueous Solutions.

Hydrophobic coatings from chitosan-surfactant composites (ca. 400 nm thick by UV-Vis spectroscopy) for possible corrosion protection were developed on glass and zinc substrates. The surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and SDBS) were added to the chitosan by two methods: mixing the surfactants with the aqueous chitosan solutions before film deposition or impregnating the deposited chitosan films with surfactants from their aqueous solutions. For the mixed coatings, it was found that the lower surface tension of solutions (40-45 mN/m) corresponded to more hydrophobic (80-90°) coatings in every case. The hydrophobicity of the impregnated coatings was especially significant (88° for SDS and 100° for SDBS). Atomic force microscopy studies revealed a slight increase in roughness (max 1.005) for the most hydrophobic coatings. The accumulation of surfactants in the layer was only significant (0.8-1.0 sulfur atomic %) in the impregnated samples according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polarization and electron impedance spectroscopy tests confirmed better barrier properties for these samples (40-50% pseudo-porosity instead of 94%). The degree of swelling in a water vapor atmosphere was significantly lower in the case of the impregnated coatings (ca. 25%) than that of the native ones (ca. 75%), measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Accordingly, good barrier layer properties require advantageous bulk properties in addition to surface hydrophobicity.

The zinc absorption of the novel peptide-Zn complex in Caco-2 cells: effects of soybean peptides charge and hydrophobicity.

BACKGROUND: The supplemental effect of zinc depends not only on adequate intake, but also on how efficiently it is absorbed in the small intestine. In the present study, weak hydrophobic peptides (WHP), strong hydrophobic peptides (SHP), positively charged peptides (PCP) and negatively charged peptides (NCP) were isolated from soybean peptides (SP). The peptide-Zn complexes (PCP-Zn, NCP-Zn, WHP-Zn, SHP-Zn and SP-Zn) were prepared to compare their promotion zinc absorption capacity in the Caco-2 cells monolayers model. RESULTS: We found that the carboxyl, carbonyl and amino groups in peptide were the primary binding sites of Zn. Compared with zinc sulfate, the peptide-Zn complexes with different charge and hydrophobic peptides could improve zinc solubility at different pH. NCP-Zn had a lower Zn-binding capacity but a higher zinc absorption capacity compared to that of PCP-Zn in Caco-2 cells. In addition, the capacity of PCP-Zn to promote zinc absorption was lower than the control group (SP-Zn). There were no significant differences in transport rates, retention rates and uptake rates of WHP-Zn, SHP-Zn and SP-Zn. NCP-Zn could improve the activity of Zn-related enzymes, and the expression levels of PepT1 and ZnT1 were higher than other peptide-Zn complexes. CONCLUSION: The promotion zinc absorption capacity of peptide-Zn complexes was not completely dependent on the Zn-binding capacity, but also depended on the charge and hydrophobicity of peptides. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The effect of Dunaliella salina extracts on the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to 3D printed polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA) are among the polymers used in the food industry. In this study, crude extracts of Dunaliella salina were used to treat the surface of 3D printed materials studied, aiming to provide them with an anti-adhesive property against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The hydrophobicity of treated and untreated surfaces was characterized using the contact angle method. Furthermore, the adhesive behavior of P. aeruginosa toward the substrata surfaces was also studied theoretically and experimentally. The results showed that the untreated PLA was hydrophobic, while the untreated PET was hydrophilic. It was also found that the treated materials became hydrophilic and electron-donating. The total energy of adhesion revealed that P. aeruginosa adhesion was theoretically favorable on untreated materials, while it was unfavorable on treated ones. Moreover, the experimental data proved that the adhesion to untreated substrata was obtained, while there was complete inhibition of adhesion to treated surfaces.

Starvation Process Would Induce Different Bacterial Mobilities and Attachment Performances in Porous Media without and with Nutrients on Surfaces.

The influence and mechanisms of starvation on the bacterial mobile performance in porous media with different nutrition conditions are not well understood. The present study systematically investigated the impacts of starvation on the mobility and attachment of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains in porous media without and with nutrients on surfaces in both simulated and real water samples. We found that regardless of strain types and water chemistries, starvation would greatly inhibit bacterial attachment onto bare porous media without nutrients yet could significantly enhance cell attachment onto porous media with nutrients on their surfaces. The mechanisms driving the opposite transport behaviors induced by starvation in porous media without and with nutrients were totally different. We found that the starvation process decreased cell motility and increased repulsive force between bacteria and porous media via decreasing cell sizes and zeta potentials, reducing EPS secretion and cell hydrophobicity, thus increasing transport/inhibiting attachment of bacteria in porous media without nutrients on sand surfaces. In contrast, through strengthening the positive chemotactic response of bacteria to nutrients, the starvation process greatly enhanced bacterial attachment onto porous media with nutrients on sand surfaces. Clearly, via modification of the nutrient conditions in porous media, the mobility/attachment performance of bacteria could be regulated.

Effects of molecule hydrophobicity and structural flexibility of appended bispecific antibody on Protein A chromatography.

Appended bispecific antibody (aBsAb) with two single chain variable fragments (scFv) linked at the c-terminus of its heavy chains is one of the promising formats in bispecific therapeutics. The presence of hydrophobic and flexible scFv fragments render aBsAb molecules higher molecule hydrophobicity and structural flexibility compared to monoclonal antibody (mAb), thus making its purification more challenging. We set out to investigate how the unique molecular properties of aBsAb affect its performance on Protein A chromatography. We showed that aBsAb has a high propensity for chromatography-induced aggregation due to its high molecule hydrophobicity, and this couldn't be improved by the addition of common chaotropic salts. Moreover, the presence of chaotropic salts, such as arginine hydrochloride (Arg-HCl), retarded aBsAb elution during Protein A chromatography rather than facilitating which was widely observed in mAb Protein A elution. Nevertheless, we were able to overcome the aggregation issue by optimizing elution condition and improved aBsAb purity from 29 % to 93 % in Protein A eluate with a high molecular weight (HMW) species of less than 5 %. We also showed that the high molecular flexibility of aBsAb leads to different hydrodynamic sizes of the aBsAb molecule post Protein A elution, neutralization, and re-acidification, which are pH dependent. This is different from mAbs where their sizes do not change post neutralization even with re-exposure to acid. The above unique observations of aBsAb in Protein A chromatography were clearly explained from the perspectives of its high molecular hydrophobicity and structural flexibility.

Light-curable urushiol enhanced bisphenol A glycidyl dimethacrylate dentin bonding agent.

OBJECTIVES: The low durability of composite resin restorations can be attributed to the degradation of the resin dentin bonding interface. Owing to the presence of hydrophilic components in the adhesive, the integrity of the resin dentin bonding interface is easily compromised, which, in turn, leads to a reduction in bond strength. The hydrophilic nature of the adhesive leads to water sorption, phase separation, and leaching of the resin component. Therefore, hydrophobic adhesives could effectively be used to stabilize the integrity and durability of the resin dentin bonding interface. METHODS: We synthesized a novel hydrophobic dentin adhesive by partially replacing bisphenol A glycidyl dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) with a light-curable urushiol monomer. The properties of the produced adhesive, including the degree of conversion, viscosity, contact angle, water sorption/solubility, and mechanical strength, were comprehensively examined and compared to those of the commercially adhesive Adper Single Bond2 as a positive control. The adhesive properties were determined using microtensile bond strength measurements, laser confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy observations, and nanoleakage tests. Finally, the novel adhesive was subjected to biocompatibility testing to determine its potential cytotoxicity. RESULTS: At a light-curable urushiol content of 20 %, the synthesized adhesive exhibited high degrees of conversion and hydrophobicity, low cytotoxicity, good mechanical properties, and outstanding adhesive strength. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of the light-curable urushiol into dentin adhesives can significantly enhance their hydrophobic, mechanical, and bonding properties, demonstrating potential to significantly improve restoration longevity. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The integration of light-curable urushiol has endowed the experimental adhesives with several enhanced functionalities. These notable benefits underscore the suitability of this monomer for expanded applications in clinical practice.

Probiotic evaluation, adherence capability and safety assessment of Lactococcus lactis strain isolated from an important herb "Murraya koenigii".

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from medicinal herb Murraya koenigii, commonly known as curry leaf, which promotes the growth and maintenance of gut microbiota, were studied for their probiotic potential. The key objective of this research was to isolate and evaluate probiotic characteristics, test adherence capabilities, and confirm their safety. Lactococcus lactis (MKL8), isolated from Murraya koenigii, was subjected to in vitro analysis to assess its resistance to the gastric environment, ability to adhere Caco-2 cells, anti-microbial activity, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation, and safety profiling through MTT assay and hemolytic. MKL8 exhibited growth at 0.5% phenol concentrations (> 80%) and was able to survive in conditions with high bile concentrations (> 79%) and a relatively low pH (72%-91%). It shows high tolerance to high osmotic conditions (> 73%) and simulated gastric juice (> 72%). Additionally, MKL8 demonstrated strong hydrophobicity (85%), auto-aggregation (87.3%-91.7%), and adherence to Caco-2 cells. Moreover, it had an inhibitory effect against pathogens too. By performing the hemolytic and MTT assays, the non-toxicity of MKL8 isolate was examined, and it exhibited no harmful characteristics. Considering MKL8's resistance to gastrointestinal tract conditions, high surface hydrophobicity, non-toxicity, and ability to inhibit the tested pathogens, it can be concluded that MKL8 demonstrated promising probiotic properties and has potential for use in the food industry.

Advances in Extraction, Structure, and Physiochemical Properties of Sorghum Kafirin for Biomaterial Applications: A Review.

Kafirin is an endosperm-specific hydrophobic protein found in sorghum grain and the waste by-product from sorghum biorefineries known as sorghum dried distillers' grain with solubles (DDGS). Because of kafirin's poor nutritional profile (negative nitrogen balance, slow digestibility, and lack of some essential amino acids), its direct human use as a food is restricted. Nevertheless, increased focus on biofuel production from sorghum grain has triggered a new wave of research to use sorghum DDGS kafirin as a food-grade protein for biomaterials with diverse applications. These applications result from kafirin's unique chemical nature: high hydrophobicity, evaporation-induced self-assembling capacity, elongated conformation, water insolubility, and low digestibility. Aqueous alcohol mixtures have been widely used for the extraction of kafirin. The composition, structure, extraction methodologies, and physiochemical properties of kafirin, emphasising its biomaterial functionality, are discussed in detail in this review. The literature survey reveals an in-depth understanding of extraction methodologies and their impact on structure functionality, which could assist in formulating materials of kafirin at a commercial scale. Ongoing research continues to explore the potential of kafirin and optimise its utilisation as a functional biomaterial, highlighting its valuable structural and physicochemical properties. Further studies should focus on covering gaps in the research as some of the current structural understanding comes from data on zein protein from maize.

Hydrophobic Modification of Pectin Aerogels via Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Pectin aerogels, with very low density (around 0.1 g cm-3) and high specific surface area (up to 600 m2 g-1), are excellent thermal insulation materials since their thermal conductivity is below that of air at ambient conditions (0.025 W m-1 K-1). However, due to their intrinsic hydrophilicity, pectin aerogels collapse when in contact with water vapor, losing superinsulating properties. In this work, first, pectin aerogels were made, and the influence of the different process parameters on the materials' structure and properties were studied. All neat pectin aerogels had a low density (0.04-0.11 g cm-1), high specific surface area (308-567 m2 g-1), and very low thermal conductivity (0.015-0.023 W m-1 K-1). Then, pectin aerogels were hydrophobized via the chemical vapor deposition of methyltrimethoxysilane using different reaction durations (2 to 24 h). The influence of hydrophobization on material properties, especially on thermal conductivity, was recorded by conditioning in a climate chamber (25 °C, 80% relative humidity). Hydrophobization resulted in the increase in thermal conductivity compared to that of neat pectin aerogels. MTMS deposition for 16 h was efficient for hydrophobizing pectin aerogels in moist environment (contact angle 115°) and stabilizing material properties with no fluctuation in thermal conductivity (0.030 W m-1 K-1) and density for the testing period of 8 months.

Structural Order in the Hydration Shell of Nonpolar Groups versus that in Bulk Water.

The poor solubility of nonpolar compounds in water around room temperature is governed by a large and negative entropy change, whose molecular cause is still debated. Since the Frank and Evans original proposal in 1945, the large and negative entropy change is usually attributed to the formation of ordered structures in the hydration shell of nonpolar groups. However, the existence of such ordered structures has never been proven. The present study is aimed at providing available structural results and thermodynamic arguments disproving the existence of ordered structures in the hydration shell of nonpolar groups.

Effect of Biofouling on the Sorption of Organic Contaminants by Microplastics.

Microplastics in the aquatic environment are susceptible to colonization by surrounding microorganisms, which form biofilms over the microplastic's surface. These biofilm-laden microplastics can then interact with a diverse array of contaminants. In the present study, biofilms were grown on microplastics in a laboratory setting using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model biofilm-forming bacterium for periods of 5 to 15 days. The sorption of three organic compounds representing different levels of hydrophobicity, namely methylene blue (MB), phenanthrol, and phenanthrene, was used to evaluate the effect of biofilm biomass on the adsorption of organic contaminants to microplastics. The sorption of MB and phenanthrol was found to increase with biofouling time, indicating affinity between these contaminants and the biofilm biomass on the particle. However, the presence of a biofilm did not influence the sorption of phenanthrene on the microplastics. These results suggest that the hydrophobicity of organic contaminants plays a major role in how biofouling of microplastics will influence contaminant sorption by microplastics. For some contaminants, biofilm can enhance the role of microplastics as contaminant vectors. These findings emphasize the need to understand the biomass load on environmental microplastics and the contaminants that associate with it for an accurate representation of the risk associated with microplastics in the environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-9. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Improving Biodegradable Films from Corn Bran Arabinoxylan for Hydrophobic Material and Green Food Packaging.

Non-biodegradable plastic materials pose environmental hazards and contribute to pollution. Arabinoxylan (AX) films have been created for applications in food packaging to replace these materials. The water interaction characteristics of biodegradable AX films were assessed following the extraction of AX from dry-milled corn bran (DCB), wet-milled corn bran (WCB), and dried distiller's grains with solubles (DDGS). Films were prepared with laccase and sorbitol before surface modification with lipase-vinyl acetate. Water solubility of the modified DCB films was significantly reduced (p < 0.05); however, the water solubility of modified WCB films decreased insignificantly (p > 0.05) compared to unmodified films. Water vapor permeability of the modified AX films from WCB and DDGS was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), unlike their unmodified counterparts. The biodegradation rates of the modified WCB AX and DDGS films increased after 63 and 99 days, respectively, compared to the unmodified films. The hydrophilic nature of AX polymers from WCB and DDGS enhances the biodegradability of the films. This study found that the modified WCB AX film was more hydrophobic, and the modified DDGS AX film was more biodegradable than the modified DCB AX film. Overall, surface modifications have potential for improving hydrophobicity of biopolymer films.