iBB

A new strategy to modify cellulose with the short antimicrobial hexapeptide MP196 (RWRWRW-NH2) is proposed by BERG and BSIRG researchers that uses fusions of Cys-terminated derivatives of MP196 and a carbohydrate binding module (CBM). CBM3-MP196-modified cellulose hydrogels displayed antibacterial activity that was significantly higher when compared with controls. This versatile concept offers a toolbox for the functionalization of different cellulose materials with a broad choice in peptides. the paper was published in Acta Biomaterialia. The work was funded by project CBM-X.

Materials with novel and enhanced functionalities can be obtained by modifying cellulose with a range of biomolecules. In a recent paper published in Materials, Mariana Barbosa, Hélvio Simões and Miguel Prazeres from BERG-iBB describe the modification of cellulose hydrogels using bi-functional biomolecular constructs based on carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs). The binding of CBM fusions, the capture of antibodies and the grafting of oligonucleotides onto hydrogels was successfully demonstrated. The CBM-based platform could contribute significantly to the development of advanced medical diagnostic sensors or specialized biomaterials, among others. The work was funded by project CBM-X.