Biofilm synthesis based on lichen beta glucans: study of properties and identification of its vibrational signatures

• Grant number: 18/25422-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Marcia Laudelina Arruda Temperini
• Grantee: Rafaella Ferreira Fernandes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/21070-5 - Vibrational spectroscopy with spatial resolution, AP.TEM

Abstract

Lichens can be considered as symbiotic associations between a mycobionte (fungal) organism with one or more photobiont partners (algae). The polymers called glucans are the main constituents of their polysaccharide composition among several other metabolites. Glucans are polymers composed of glucose units and, in addition to being widely diffused in nature, are reported in the literature with promising biotechnological properties.Polysaccharides are considered eco-friendly polymers due to their characteristics of biodegradability and biocompatibility - typical characteristics of the application of polymers as biomaterials. However, b-glucans often exhibit low solubility and processability due to the numerous intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups of saccharide residues; which limits their application.In the last years, Ionic Liquids (IL) - compounds that have low vapor pressure and high thermal stability - are being used as substitute for volatile solvents often used in various industrial applications. They are also called as eco-friendly solvents due to their properties.The main motivation of this work is the development of new polymer films based on chemically extracted polysaccharides from the Usnea sp lichen species, as well as the evaluation by vibrational spectroscopy of the biofilm formation mechanisms of these polysaccharides produced from their solutions with ionic liquids, such as BMIMCl (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride).The vibrational microscopy also will provide clear answers to this project regarding the understanding and visualization of the chemical material composition, as well as the analysis of the mechanisms of biodegradation and mechanical stress adopted in this work to better understand the biotechnological properties and applicability of the new biofilms. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERNANDES, RAFAELLA F.; ALVES, GUSTAVO A. S.; GONCALVES, RENATO V.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.. A Methodology to Identify the Releasing of the Amide-Containing beta-Glucan from the Usnea Lichen: A Spectroscopic Study. JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, v. 29, n. 10, p. 3105-3115, OCT 2021. (18/25422-9, 16/21070-5)

FERNANDES, RAFAELLA F.; ATVARS, TERESA D. Z.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.. Exploring the non-traditional fluorescence emission of non-conjugated polymers dots for sensing pesticides. REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS, v. 182, p. 7-pg., 2022-12-10. (18/25422-9, 16/21070-5)

FERNANDES, RAFAELLA F.; ALVES, GUSTAVO A. S.; GONCALVES, RENATO V.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.. A Methodology to Identify the Releasing of the Amide-Containing beta-Glucan from the Usnea Lichen: A Spectroscopic Study. JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, MAR 2021. (18/25422-9, 16/21070-5)

DA SILVA, RAFAEL T. P.; DE BARROS, HELOISE. R. R.; FERNANDES, RAFAELLA. F. F.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.; DE TORRESI, SUSANA. I. CORDOBA I.. Cytochrome C with Peroxidase-like Activity Supported on Plasmonic AuNPs: Improved Stability and Enhanced Nanobioplasmonic Catalytic Conversion. CHEMCATCHEM, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-02-01. (18/25422-9, 19/09668-0, 18/13492-2, 16/21070-5, 17/20892-4, 15/26308-7)

FERNANDES, RAFAELLA F.; PAGANOTO, GIORDANO T.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.. Non-traditional intrinsic luminescence from non-conjugated polymer dots: designing a hybrid biomaterial. Polymer Chemistry, v. 12, n. 43, OCT 2021. (18/25422-9, 16/21070-5)

NICOLAS, MARI F.; MARIN, JAYR H.; PAGANOTO, GIORDANO T.; FERNANDES, RAFAELLA F.; TEMPERINI, MARCIA L. A.. Surface-Enhanced Raman and Surface-Enhanced fluorescence of charged dyes based on alginate silver nanoparticles and its calcium alginate hydrogel beads. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY, v. 276, p. 8-pg., 2022-04-06. (18/25422-9)