Country report. Technical Meeting on Biomaterial for Sustainable Development (EVT2104094)

GRASSELLI, M.

2022-08-01/2022-09-02

1-9

Química

Quimica

Gamma-radiation technology has the potential to prepare novel polymeric materials and nanomaterials. Our laboratory has focused on developing materials applicable to biotechnology, specifically in protein purification and downstream processing. Different materials shapes and compositions, such as colloidal composites, nanoparticles, hydrogel-supported materials and polymer modifications, have been prepared by gamma radiation technology. Functional colloidal composites (FCC) based on fumed silica nanoparticles (FSi) and polymethacrylate were prepared by radiation-induced polymerization in aqueous suspension. These FCC nanomaterials have application as protein-capture materials in the lab-scale purification process.Irradiation of water/ethanol solutions containing albumin and gold-NPs allows to reach protein-NPs and biohybrid-NPs by a combination of solvent-induced protein aggregation and cross-linking initiated by radicals from solvent radiolysis. This procedure can be extended to other proteins and NPs.Finally, radiation-induced hydrogel adhesion was developed by crosslinking and simultaneous grafting in an aqueous ethanol solution. The ethanol as cosolvent allowed PVA swelling without dissolution during the irradiation step, and adding GMA monomer into the irradiation solution allows simultaneous grafting in the same process. The PVA hydrogel was used to immobilize FSi inside disposable micropipette tips. These functional tips can be applied to DNA purification procedures.This report shows different examples of the power of ionizing radiation from gamma rays to prepare or modify materials using low irradiation dose, low monomer consumption and eco-friendly solvents.