title: Biopolymer matrix for nano-encapsulation of urease - A model protein and its application in urea detection.
abstract: Alginate microparticles and nanoparticles crosslinked with Ca+2ions are frequently employed in biomedical applications. Here we use microemulsion polymerization to prepare alginate nanoparticles (nanogels) using different crosslinking ions (Ca+2, Sr+2, Ba+2) to encapsulate a model protein, urease enzyme (jackbeans). With alginate concentrations of 0.2wt% in the aqueous phase, emulsion droplets showed good stability and narrow, monomodal distributions with radii ∼65±10nm. The size of the nanogel varies with the crosslinking cation and its affinity for the mannuronate and guluronate units in the linear alginate chain. The nanogels were further characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and zeta potential. This work demonstrates the potential application of Ba-alginate as an alternative matrix for nano-encapsulation of proteins and its use for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Amity Institute of Biotechnology, AUUP, Noida 201301, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, AUUP, Noida 201301, India.
authors.forename: Arpita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.affiliation: St. Stephens College, Delhi University, New Delhi 110007, India. Electronic address: satish@ststephens.edu.
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 015, Waltham, MA 02453, United States. Electronic address: epstein@brandeis.edu.
authors.forename: Irving R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: Amity Institute of Biotechnology, AUUP, Noida 201301, India. Electronic address: rsahney@amity.edu.
authors.forename: Rachana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahney
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D032449:Canavalia / Q000201:enzymology*; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D014510:Urease / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002412:Cations; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004655:Emulsions; D004800:Enzymes, Immobilized; D005782:Gels; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D014508:Urea; D014510:Urease
keywords: Alginate nanogels; Nanoparticles; Urease; W/O nanoemulsions