title: "Aerogels of enzymatically oxidized galactomannans from leguminous plants: Versatile delivery systems of antimicrobial peptides and enzymes".
abstract: We describe aerogels obtained by laccase/TEMPO-oxidation and lyophilization of galactomannans (GM) from fenugreek, sesbania and guar. Enzymatic oxidation of GM in aqueous solution caused viscosity increase up to fifteen-fold, generating structured, elastic, stable hydrogels, presumably due to establishment of hemiacetalic bonds between newly formed carbonyl groups and free hydroxyl groups. Upon lyophilization, water-insoluble aerogels were obtained, whose mechanical properties and porosity were investigated. Active principles were absorbed into the aerogels from aqueous solutions and, following rinsing, blotting, re-lyophilization, were released in an appropriate medium. The release of the antibiotic polymyxin B was tested against six different Gram-negative bacterial strains, of the antimicrobial peptide nisin against two Gram-positive and of the muraminidase lysozyme against one anaerobic strain. Protease and lipase release in solution from "enzyme loaded" aerogels was monitored by the increase in enzymatic activity. These biomaterials could represent new versatile, biocompatible "delivery systems" of actives for biomedical and industrial applications.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, C.N.R., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: paola.campia@ispa.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB), Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: erika.ponzini@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ponzini
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, C.N.R., Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: bianca.rossi@polimi.it.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: PackLAB, Unimi Food Packaging Laboratory, DeFENS; Dept. of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.farris@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, C.N.R., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: tiziana.silvetti@ispa.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Silvetti
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, C.N.R., Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: luca.merlini@icrm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merlini
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari, C.N.R., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: milena.brasca@ispa.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brasca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB), Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: rita.grandori@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grandori
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, C.N.R., Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131 Milano, Italy. Electronic address: yves.galante@icrm.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Yves M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Galante
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005690:Galactose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005782:Gels; D008351:Mannans; C012990:galactomannan; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Aerogels; Delivery systems; Galactomannans; Lysozyme; Nisin; Polymyxin