Tsuneo Yamane

Bio: Tsuneo Yamane is an academic researcher from Kyoto University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Substrate (chemistry) & Emulsion. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 22 publications receiving 548 citations.

Fed‐batch hydrocarbon fermentation with colloidal emulsion feed

Abstract: Candida tropicalis was cultured with n-hexadecane, dispersed in water as submicron droplets, as the only carbon substrate; the emulsion being fed continuously into a fermentor containing only an aqueous medium (fed-batch culture). The results have demonstrated that the organism takes up hydrocarbon accommodated in the aqueous phase as submicron droplets. The cell/substrate yield for the linear growth phase, where growth was limited by the supply of the substrate, was much higher than the yield for the exponential growth phase.

Application of photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers to entrap microbial cells. Effects of increased cell-entrapping gel hydrophobicity on the hydrocortisone Δ1-Dehydrogenation

Abstract: Acetone-dried cells of Arthrobacter simplex, whose steroid Δ1 activity had been previously induced, were entrapped by the use of photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers. When the hydrophobicity of the cell-entrapping gel was increased by mixing a hydrophobic prepolymer (main chain component; polypropyleneglycol) with a hydrophilic prepolymer (main chain component; polypropyleneglycol) with a hydrophilic prepolymer (main chain component; polyethyleneglycol) (up to 30%), the hydrocortisone to prednisolone conversion rate of the immobilized cells increased significantly, attaining approximately 20% of that of the free cells. A 10% addition of organic solvents, such as methanol, to the aqueous reaction mixture enhanced the solubility of the substrate greatly and to a lesser degree the reaction rate of the immobilized cells. The presence of an electron acceptor, phenazine methosulfate or 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, stimulated the steroid conversion of the entrapped as well as the free cells. The stability of the entrapped cells over repeated reactions was improved by immobilization.

Steroid bioconversion in water‐insoluble organic solvents: Δ1‐Dehydrogenation by free microbial cells and by cells entrapped in hydrophilic or lipophilic gels

Abstract: A cell suspension in a water‐insoluble organic solvent (benzene: n‐heptane, 1 : 1 by volume) of Nocardia rhodocrous (previously induced to synthesize steroid Δ1dehydrogenase) rapidly catalyzed the stoichiometric oxidation of 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione (4‐AD) to androst‐l,4‐diene‐3,17‐dione (ADD) in the presence of phenazine methosulfate (PMS). High levels of 4‐AD or PMS reduced the conversion rates. No appreciable decrease in the conversion rate was observed on adding aqueous buffer solution to the thawed ceils (up to 9.4 g water/g dry cell). The whole cells were immobilized by entrapment in a hydrophilic gel (H‐gel) or a lipophilic gel (L‐gel) by use of a water‐soluble or water‐insoluble photocrosslinkable prepolymer. The reticula of H‐ and L‐gel matrices were impregnated with water and organic solvent, respectively. Both the H‐ and L‐gels could convert 4‐AD to ADD in the presence of PMS, the L‐gel showing a slightly higher conversion rate. Various lines of evidence indicate that the limiting factor is the penetration rate of 4‐AD into gel particles for the H‐gel, and the penetration rate of PMS for the L‐gel. The catalytic activities decreased considerably after several successive runs with the free cell suspension system, while the immobilized cells were more stable, the stability of H‐gel and L‐gel being almost the same.

Immobilization of microbial cells and enzymes with hydrophobic photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers

Abstract: Attempts were made to entrap enzymes or microbial cells with water-insoluble photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers of different types in organic solvent systems in the presence or absence of water. Acetone-dried cells of Artbrobacter simplex immobilized in a maleic polybutadiene gel (PBM-2000) converted hydrocortisone to prednisolone in a phosphate buffer. 4-Androstene-3,17-dione was converted to androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione in benzene-n-heptane solution by Nocardia rhodocrous which was immobilized by a hydrophobic prepolymer, ENTP-2000. The ENTP-2000 had been synthesized from poly(propylene glycol)-2000, hydroxyethylacrylate and isophorone diisocyanate. Even enzymes catalyzing aqueous phase reactions, such as catalase and invertase, were immobilized in a polybutadiene resin (PB-200k) to give active gel-entrapped preparations. The cells and enzymes immobilized in these hydrophobic resins exhibited moderate activities compared with those of the free cells and enzymes.

Gels for encapsulation of biological materials

Abstract: Water soluble macromers are modified by addition of free radical polymerizable groups, such as those containing a carbon-carbon double or triple bond, which can be polymerized under mild conditions to encapsulate tissues, cells, or biologically active materials. The polymeric materials are particularly useful as tissue adhesives, coatings for tissue lumens including blood vessels, coatings for cells such as islets of Langerhans, coatings, plugs, supports or substrates for contact with biological materials such as the body, and as drug delivery devices for biologically active molecules.

Photopolymerizable biodegradable hydrogels as tissue contacting materials and controlled-release carriers

Abstract: Hydrogels of polymerized and crosslinked macromers comprising hydrophilic oligomers having biodegradable monomeric or oligomeric extensions, which biodegradable extensions are terminated on free ends with end cap monomers or oligomers capable of polymerization and cross linking are described. The hydrophilic core itself may be degradable, thus combining the core and extension functions. Macromers are polymerized using free radical initiators under the influence of long wavelength ultraviolet light, visible light excitation or thermal energy. Biodegradation occurs at the linkages within the extension oligomers and results in fragments which are non-toxic and easily removed from the body. Preferred applications for the hydrogels include prevention of adhesion formation after surgical procedures, controlled release of drugs and other bioactive species, temporary protection or separation of tissue surfaces, adhering of sealing tissues together, and preventing the attachment of cells to tissue surfaces.

Microbiological aspects of surfactant use for biological soil remediation

Abstract: Biodegradation of hydrophobic organic compounds in polluted soil is a process involving interactions among soil particles, pollutants, water, and micro-organisms. Surface-active agents or surfactants are compounds that may affect these interactions, and the use of these compounds may be a means of overcoming the problem of limited bioavailability of hydrophobic organic pollutants in biological soil remediation. The effects of surfactants on the physiology of micro-organisms range from inhibition of growth due to surfactant toxicity to stimulation of growth caused by the use of surfactants as a co-substrate. The most important effect of surfactants on the interactions among soil and pollutant is stimulation of mass transport of the pollutant from the soil to the aqueous phase. This can be caused by three different mechanisms: emulsification of liquid pollutant, micellar solubilisation, and facilitated transport. The importance of these mechanisms with respect to the effect of surfactants on bioavailability is reviewed for hydrophobic organic pollutants present in different physical states. The complexity of the effect of surfactants on pollutant bioavailability is reflected by the results in the literature, which range from stimulation to inhibition of desorption and biodegradation of polluting compounds. No general trends can be found in these results. Therefore, more research is necessary to make the application of surfactants a standard tool in biological soil remediation.