Research

Biocatalytically functionalized fibers and polymers

Site-specific chemical and/or enzyme-catalyzed processes of hydrolysis, surface activation, modification and/or functionalization of fibers (Marie-Curie-ToK/DeV-FP6-POLYSURF, RRP-CelKrog) and polymers (E!4952-BIOPACKAGING) representing an important contribution from the view of more environmentally and ecologically acceptable porcessing. Special attention is attributed to the development of materials possessing permanent, but targeted and biocompatible antimicrobial activity (RRP-CelKrog) using proteins and peptides (EraNet-MATERAPlus-2010-ANTIMICROB-PEPTIDES) or photocatalytic nano-particles (EraNet-MNT-2011-TABANA) affecting bacteria membrane by different mechanisms (directly via interactions or indirectly via free radicals) and thus inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them. Application potentials in biomedical, therapeutic, packaging, textile, etc..

KUPNIK, Kaja, PRIMOŽIČ, Mateja, KOKOL, Vanja, KNEZ, Željko, LEITGEB, Maja. Enzymatic, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Bioactive Compounds from Avocado (Persea americana L.) Seeds. Plants. 6 March 2023, vol. 12, iss. 5, 1201, 25 p, DOI: 10.3390/plants12051201.

AMARIEI, Georgiana, KOKOL, Vanja, VIVOD, Vera, BOLTES, Karina, LETÓNA, Pedro, ROSAL, Roberto. Biocompatible antimicrobial electrospun nanofibers functionalized with ϵ−poly−L−lysine. International journal of pharmaceutics, 2018, vol. 553, iss. 1/2, 141-148, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.10.037.

KAISERSBERGER VINCEK, Maja, MOR, Amram, GORGIEVA, Selestina, KOKOL, Vanja. Antibacterial activity and cytotoxycity of gelatine-conjugated lysine-based peptides. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A, 2017, vol. 105, iss. 11, 3110-3126, doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.36164.

KAISERSBERGER VINCEK, Maja, ŠTRANCAR, Janez, KOKOL, Vanja. Antibacterial activity of chemically versus enzymatic functionalized wool with ξ -poly-L-lysine. Textile research journal, 2017, vol. 87, 13, 1604-1619, doi: 10.1177/0040517516657060.

SOUSA, Fernanda de, KREFT, Oliver, SUKHORUKOV, Gleb B., MÖHWALD, Helmuth, KOKOL, Vanja. Biocatalytic response of multi-layer assembled collagen/hyaluronic acid nanoengineered capsules. J. microencapsul, 2014, vol. 31, no. 3, 270-276, doi: 10.3109/02652048.2013.834995.

BOŽIČ, Mojca, ŠTRANCAR, Janez, KOKOL, Vanja. Laccase-initiated reaction between phenolic acids and chitosan. React. funct. polym.. [Print ed.], Oct. 2013, vol. 73, iss. 10, 1377-1383, graf. prikazi, doi: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2013.01.005.

BOŽIČ, Mojca, GORGIEVA, Selestina, KOKOL, Vanja. Laccase-mediated functionalization of chitosan by caffeic and gallic acids for modulating antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Carbohydr. polym. 2012, vol. 87, iss. 4, 2388-2398, doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.11.006.

BOŽIČ, Mojca, GORGIEVA, Selestina, KOKOL, Vanja. Homogenous and heterogeneous method for laccase-mediated functionalization of chitosan by tannic acid and quercetin. Carbohydr. polym. 1 July 2012, vol. 89, iss. 3, 854-864, doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.04.021.

FRAS ZEMLJIČ, Lidija, KOKOL, Vanja, ČAKARA, Duško. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of chitosan-based viscose fibres enzymatically functionalized with flavonoids. Tex. res. j., 2011, vol. 81, no. 15, 1532-1540, doi: 10.1177/0040517511404600.

LENTING, Herman B. M., BROEKMAN, Henk, GÜBITZ, Georg M., KOKOL, Vanja, SHEN, Jinsong. Industrial production of enzyme-modified wool fibers for machine-washable bed coverings. Biotechnol. j. 2010, vol. 4, iss. 10, 1441-1449, doi: 10.1002/biot.200900062.

JUS, Suzana, KOKOL, Vanja, GÜBITZ, Georg M. Tyrosinase-catalysed coating of wool fibres with different protein-based biomaterials. J. biomater. sci., polym. ed., 2009, 20, no. 2, 253-269. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156856209X404523,

SOUSA, Fernanda de, GÜBITZ, Georg M., KOKOL, Vanja. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of chitosan enzymatically functionalized with flavonoids. Process biochem. 2009, vol. 44, iss. 7, 749-756, doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2009.03.009.

SCHROEDER, Marc, FATARELLA, Enrico, KOVAČ, Janez, GÜBITZ, Georg M., KOKOL, Vanja. Laccase-induced grafting on plasma-pretreated polypropylene. Biomacromolecules, 2008, 9, 10, 2735-2741. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021%2Fbm800450b,

JUS, Suzana, KOKOL, Vanja, GÜBITZ, Georg M. Tyrosinase catalysed coupling of functional molecules onto protein fibres. Enzyme microb. technol. 5 Jun. 2008, vol. 42, iss. 7, 535-542. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2008.02.012,

PRICELIUS, Sina, HELD, C., MURKOVIC, Michael, BOŽIČ, Mojca, KOKOL, Vanja, CAVACO-PAULO, Artur, GÜBITZ, Georg M. Enzymatic reduction of azo and indigoid compounds. Appl. microbiol. biotechnol. 2007, vol. 77, no. 2, 321-327. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1165-8.

SCHROEDER, Marc, AICHERNIG, N., GÜBITZ, Georg M., KOKOL, Vanja. Enzymatic coating of lignocellulosic surfaces with polyphenols. Biotechnol. j. 2007, vol. 2, iss. 3, 334-341. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biot.200600209.

JUS, Suzana, SCHROEDER, Marc, GÜBITZ, Georg M., HEINE, Elisabeth, KOKOL, Vanja. The influence of enzymatic treatment on wool fibre properties using PEG-modified proteases. Enzyme microb. technol. 2007, vol. 40, iss. 7, 1705-1711. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.10.001.

SOUSA, Fernanda de, JUS, Suzana, ERBEL, Anita, KOKOL, Vanja, CAVACO-PAULO, Artur, GÜBITZ, Georg M. A novel metalloprotease from Bacillus cereus for protein fibre processing. Enzyme microb. technol. 2007, vol. 40, iss. 7, 1772-1781. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2006.12.017. [

ERLACHER, A., SOUSA, Fernanda de, SCHROEDER, Marc, JUS, Suzana, KOKOL, Vanja, CAVACO-PAULO, Artur, GÜBITZ, Georg M. A new cuticle scale hydrolysing protease from Beauveria brongniartii. Biotechnol. lett., 2006, vol. 28, no. 10, 703-710. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10529-006-9047-1.

KOKOL, Vanja, HEINE, Elisabeth. Effective textile printing using different enzyme systems. Color. technol., 2005, vol. 121, no. 4, 209-215.

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