Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Item
    Enhanced laccase-mediated transformation of diclofenac and flufenamic acid in the presence of bisphenol A and testing of an enzymatic membrane reactor
    (Heidelberg : Springer, 2018-02-24) Hahn, Veronika; Meister, Mareike; Hussy, Stephan; Cordes, Arno; Enderle, Günther; Saningong, Akuma; Schauer, Frieder
    The inadequate removal of pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants, as evidenced by their detection of these substances in the aquatic environment has led to the need for sustainable remediation strategies. Laccases possess a number of advantages including a broad substrate spectrum. To identify promoting or inhibitory effects of reaction partners in the remediation processes we tested not only single compounds-as has been described in most studies-but also mixtures of pollutants. The reaction of diclofenac (DCF) and flufenamic acid (FA), mediated by Trametes versicolor laccase resulted in the formation of products, which were more hydrophilic than the respective reactant (reactant concentration of 0.1 mM; laccase activity 0.5 U/ml). Analyses (HPLC, LC/MS) showed that the product 1a and 1b for DCF and FA, respectively, to be a para-benzoquinone imine derivative. The formation of 1a was enhanced by the addition of bisphenol A (BPA). After 6 days 97% more product was formed in the mixture of DCF and BPA compared with DCF tested alone. Product 1a was also detected in experiments with micropollutant-supplemented secondary effluent. Within 24 h 67% and 100% of DCF and BPA were transformed, respectively (25 U/ml). Experiments with a membrane reactor (volume 10 l; phosphate buffer, pH 7) were in good agreement with the results of the laboratory scale experiments (50 ml). EC50-values were also determined. The data support the use of laccases for the removal or detoxification of recalcitrant pollutants. Thus, the enzyme laccase may be a component of an additional environmentally friendly process for the treatment stage of wastewater remediation.
  • Item
    Identification of herbal teas and their compounds eliciting antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro
    (Heidelberg : Springer, 2022) Le-Trilling, Vu Thuy Khanh; Mennerich, Denise; Schuler, Corinna; Sakson, Roman; Lill, Julia K.; Kasarla, Siva Swapna; Kopczynski, Dominik; Loroch, Stefan; Flores-Martinez, Yulia; Katschinski, Benjamin; Wohlgemuth, Kerstin; Gunzer, Matthias; Meyer, Folker; Phapale, Prasad; Dittmer, Ulf; Sickmann, Albert; Trilling, Mirko
    Background: The SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted medical and socioeconomic havoc, and despite the current availability of vaccines and broad implementation of vaccination programs, more easily accessible and cost-effective acute treatment options preventing morbidity and mortality are urgently needed. Herbal teas have historically and recurrently been applied as self-medication for prophylaxis, therapy, and symptom alleviation in diverse diseases, including those caused by respiratory viruses, and have provided sources of natural products as basis for the development of therapeutic agents. To identify affordable, ubiquitously available, and effective treatments, we tested herbs consumed worldwide as herbal teas regarding their antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Results: Aqueous infusions prepared by boiling leaves of the Lamiaceae perilla and sage elicit potent and sustained antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 when applied after infection as well as prior to infection of cells. The herbal infusions exerted in vitro antiviral effects comparable to interferon-β and remdesivir but outperformed convalescent sera and interferon-α2 upon short-term treatment early after infection. Based on protein fractionation analyses, we identified caffeic acid, perilla aldehyde, and perillyl alcohol as antiviral compounds. Global mass spectrometry (MS) analyses performed comparatively in two different cell culture infection models revealed changes of the proteome upon treatment with herbal infusions and provided insights into the mode of action. As inferred by the MS data, induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) was confirmed as effector mechanism by the antiviral activity of the HMOX-1-inducing compounds sulforaphane and fraxetin. Conclusions: In conclusion, herbal teas based on perilla and sage exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 including variants of concern such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, and we identified HMOX-1 as potential therapeutic target. Given that perilla and sage have been suggested as treatment options for various diseases, our dataset may constitute a valuable resource also for future research beyond virology.
  • Item
    From In Vitro to Perioperative Vascular Tissue Engineering: Shortening Production Time by Traceable Textile-Reinforcement
    (Heidelberg : Springer, 2022) Mohapatra, Saurav Ranjan; Rama, Elena; Melcher, Christoph; Call, Tobias; Al Enezy-Ulbrich, Miriam Aischa; Pich, Andrij; Apel, Christian; Kiessling, Fabian; Jockenhoevel, Stefan
    Background: The production of tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) usually involves a prolonged bioreactor cultivation period of up to several weeks to achieve maturation of extracellular matrix and sufficient mechanical strength. Therefore, we aimed to substantially shorten this conditioning time by combining a TEVG textile scaffold with a recently developed copolymer reinforced fibrin gel as a cell carrier. We further implemented our grafts with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents to allow the in-vitro monitoring of the TEVG’s remodeling process. Methods: Biodegradable polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was electrospun onto a non-degradable polyvinylidene fluoride scaffold and molded along with copolymer-reinforced fibrin hydrogel and human arterial cells. Mechanical tests on the TEVGs were performed both instantly after molding and 4 days of bioreactor conditioning. The non-invasive in vitro monitoring of the PLGA degradation and the novel imaging of fluorinated thermoplastic polyurethane (19F-TPU) were performed using 7T MRI. Results: After 4 days of close loop bioreactor conditioning, 617 ± 85 mmHg of burst pressure was achieved, and advanced maturation of extracellular matrix (ECM) was observed by immunohistology, especially in regards to collagen and smooth muscle actin. The suture retention strength (2.24 ± 0.3 N) and axial tensile strength (2.45 ± 0.58 MPa) of the TEVGs achieved higher values than the native arteries used as control. The contrast agents labeling of the TEVGs allowed the monitorability of the PLGA degradation and enabled the visibility of the non-degradable textile component. Conclusion: Here, we present a concept for a novel textile-reinforced TEVG, which is successfully produced in 4 days of bioreactor conditioning, characterized by increased ECM maturation and sufficient mechanical strength. Additionally, the combination of our approach with non-invasive imaging provides further insights into TEVG’s clinical application.