Shear-Induced Crystallization of Star and Linear Poly(L-lactide)s.

The influence of macromolecular architecture on shear-induced crystallization of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) was studied. To this aim, three star PLLAs, 6-arm with Mw of 120 and 245 kg/mol, 4-arm with Mw of 123 kg/mol, and three linear PLLAs with Mw of 121, 240 and 339 kg/mol, were synthesized and examined. The PLLAs were sheared at 170 and 150 °C, at 5/s, 10/s and 20/s for 20 s, 10 s and 5 s, respectively, and then cooled at 10 or 30 °C/min. Shear-induced crystallization during cooling was followed by a light depolarization method, whereas the crystallized specimens were examined by DSC, 2D-WAXS, 2D-SAXS and SEM. The effect of shear depended on the shearing conditions, cooling rate and polymer molar mass but it was also affected by the macromolecular architecture. The shear-induced crystallization of linear PLLA with Mw of 240 kg/mol was more intense than that of the 6-arm polymer with similar Mw, most possibly due to its higher Mz. However, the influence of shear on the crystallization of the star polymers with Mw close to 120 kg/mol was stronger than on that of their linear analog. This was reflected in higher crystallization temperature, as well as crystallinity achieved during cooling.

Identification of the Primary Structure of Selenium-Containing Polysaccharides Selectively Inhibiting T-Cell Proliferation.

We previously described the biosynthesis, isolation, and immunosuppressive activity of the selenium-containing polysaccharide fraction isolated from the mycelial culture of Lentinula edodes. Structural studies have shown that the fraction was a protein-containing mixture of high molar mass polysaccharides α- and ß-glucans. However, which of the components of the complex fraction is responsible for the immunosuppressive activity non-typical for polysaccharides of fungal origin has not been explained. In the current study, we defined four-polysaccharide components of the Se-containing polysaccharide fraction determined their primary structure and examined the effect on T- and B-cell proliferation. The isolated Se-polysaccharides, α-1,4-glucan (Mw 2.25 × 106 g/mol), unbranched ß-1,6-d-glucan, unbranched ß-1,3-d-glucan and ß-1,3-branched ß-1,6-d-glucan (Mw 1.10 × 105 g/mol), are not typical as components of the cell wall of L. edodes. All are biologically active, but the inhibitory effect of the isolated polysaccharides on lymphocyte proliferation was weaker, though more selective than that of the crude fraction.

Selenized polysaccharides - Biosynthesis and structural analysis.

The main objective of our research was to analyze the structure of the Se-containing polysaccharides and to examine how the selenium is bound to the polysaccharide molecule. During investigation of the biosynthesis of new immunomodulators, we isolated a selenium (Se)-containing polysaccharide-protein fraction containing proteoglycans of molecular weights of 3.9 × 106 Da and 2.6 × 105 Da, composed of glucose or mannose, nearly 8% of protein and 190 µg Se/g dry weight. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data analysis in the near edge region (XANES) confirmed that selenium in the Se-polysaccharides structure is present at the -II oxidation state and that Se is organically bound. The simulation analysis in the EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) region suggested that selenium is most likely bound by a glycosidic-link in a ß-1,3 or α-1,4-glycosidic bond or substituted for oxygen in a pyranosidic ring. Calculations performed with Gaussian 03 software predicted deformations in the polysaccharide structure caused by the incorporation of the selenium atom including change in bond lengths and torsion angles and, as a result, disappearance of hydrogen bonds in the vicinity of the selenium atoms.

The MPEG monophosphate ester: synthesis and characterization.

Methods of preparation of the phosphoric ester of monomethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG-P) from MPEG (M(n) = 550 and 2000) and phosphoric acid (P), or its derivatives - pyrophosphoric acid (PY), polyphosphoric acid (PP) and POCl(3)- are described and compared. MPEG-P was isolated in a pure state (no detectable impurities) and characterized.

Improved simultaneous production of mycelial biomass and polysaccharides by submerged culture of Hericium erinaceum: optimization using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD).

The aim of this study was to optimize the culture medium used for the mycelial growth and production of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) in a submerged culture of Hericium erinaceum. Of the various factors examined, including carbon and nitrogen sources, vitamins, mineral elements, and initial pH, those that proved to have a significant effect were then tested using a 2(4) central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximal yield of biomass reached 14.24 +/- 0.45 g l(-1) and was 1.85-fold higher than in the basal medium. The kinetics of EPS biosynthesis in a bioreactor showed that although the highest yield of EPS (2.75 +/- 0.27 g l(-1)) could be obtained on day 8, the process of biosynthesizing high molecular weight polysaccharides proceeded until the depletion of the carbon source in the medium (after 14 days of cultivation). Our results could be very helpful in the large-scale production of bioactive polysaccharides from H. erinaceum.

One-pot synthesis of star-shaped macromolecules containing polyglycidol and poly(ethylene oxide) arms.

Synthesis of fully hydrophilic star-shaped macromolecules with different kinds of arms (A(x)B(y)C(z)) based on polyglycidol (PGL, A(x)) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, C(z)) arms and diepoxy compounds (diglycidyl ethers of ethylene glycol (DGEG) or neopentyl glycol (DGNG) in the core, B(y)) forming the core is described. Precursors of arms were prepared by polymerization of glycidol with protected -OH groups. The first-generation stars were formed in the series of consecutive-parallel reactions of arms A(x) with diepoxy compounds (B). These first-generation stars (A(x)B(y)), having approximately O-, Mt+ groups on the cores, were used as multianionic initiators for the second generation of arms (C(z)) built by polymerization of ethylene oxide. The products with M(n) up to 10(5) and having up to approximately 40 arms were obtained. The number of arms (f) was determined by direct measurements of M(n) of the first-generation stars (M(n) of arms A(x) is known), compared with f calculated from the branching index g, determined from R(g) measured with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) triple detection with TriSEC software. The progress of the star formation was monitored by 1H NMR and SEC. These novel water-soluble stars, having a large number of hydroxyl groups, both at the ends of PEO arms as well as within the PGL arms, can be functionalized and further used for attaching compounds of interest. This approach opens, therefore, a new way of "multiPEGylation".