Browsing by Author "Amoroso, Alejandro "

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    Crosslinked oxidized-nanocellulose/chitosan hydrogels as a scaffold matrix for mesenchymal stem cell growth
    (2024) Marino, Mayra A.; Oyarce, Karina; Tobar, Catalina; del Rio, Rodrigo Segura; Paredes, Maria G.; Pavez, Paulina; Sarabia, Mauricio; Amoroso, Alejandro; Concha, Jose L.; Norambuena-Contreras, Jose; Barjas, Gustavo Cabrera; Castano, Johanna
    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are recognized for their immunomodulatory effects and regenerative properties, being promising therapeutic agents for a wide range of diseases. To ensure a localized effect of MSC in the organism biobased hydrogels have been tested for their ability to act as a matrix-embedded to improve MSC targeted delivery. In this context, nanocellulose (NC) has been used for drug delivery, showing biocompatibility and durability in time, but until now NC has not been tested for MSC growth exploiting the size and aldehyde content of NC. In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were studied after one-pot oxidation and further crosslinking with chitosan (mass ratio 1:5). Size and aldehyde content of oxidized NC samples were evaluated to analyze their influence on the hydrogel's properties. The crosslinked hydrogels were analyzed by FESEM, swelling ability, FTIR, compression tests, thermal stability, and stability in culture cell conditions. Oxidized-MFC hydrogel improved the mechanical stability and swelling behavior, but it lacks stability at cell conditions possibly due to its low aldehyde content (0.54 mmol/g). Conversely, oxidized CNF and oxidized CNC formed suitable crosslinked hydrogels for cell adhesion, and for growing and proliferating of MSC 3D spheroids after 120 h. However, only hydrogel with PO-CNF/chitosan shows antibacterial activity as well as MSC proliferation.
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    Hydroquinone and H2O2 differentially affect the ultrastructure and expression of ligninolytic genes in the basidiomycete Ceriporiopsis subvermispora
    (2009) Amoroso, Alejandro; Mancilla, Rodrigo A.; Gonzalez, Bernardo; Vicuna, Rafael
    The biodegradation of lignin is a highly oxidative process in which various oxidases and peroxidases play a major role. During lignin decay, the generation of aromatic compounds and reactive oxygen species leads to oxidative stress. In this work, the effect of the oxidative compounds H2O2 and hydroquinone in the ligninolytic fungus Ceriporiopsis subvermispora was studied, both at the ultrastructural and at the transcriptional level. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of microvesicles and extensive cytoplasm degeneration after incubation with hydroquinone, but not with H2O2. Studies of the intracellular redox state of the fungus showed that hydroquinone causes a transient decrease in the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and an increase in the glutathione-S-transferase mRNA levels. These results suggest that hydroquinone produces oxidative stress in this microorganism. On the other hand, it was observed that hydroquinone, but not H2O2, affects Mn-dependent peroxide and laccase transcripts levels. We propose that the mechanism by which the fungus reacts against oxidative stress contributes to its selectivity toward lignin during wood decay.