Cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE), which is a common hazardous compound, often accumulates during incomplete reductive dechlorination of higher chlorinated ethenes (CEs) at contaminated sites. Simple monoaromatics, such as toluene and phenol, have been proven to induce biotransformation of cDCE in microbial communities incapable of cDCE degradation in the absence of other carbon sources. The goal of this microcosm-based laboratory study was to discover non-toxic natural monoaromatic secondary plant metabolites (SPMEs) that could enhance cDCE degradation in a similar manner to toluene and phenol. Eight SPMEs were selected on the basis of their monoaromatic molecular structure and widespread occurrence in nature. The suitability of the SPMEs chosen to support bacterial growth and to promote cDCE degradation was evaluated in aerobic microbial cultures enriched from cDCE-contaminated soil in the presence of each SPME tested and cDCE. Significant cDCE depletions were achieved in cultures enriched on acetophenone, phenethyl alcohol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and trans-cinnamic acid. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of each microbial community revealed ubiquitous enrichment of bacteria affiliated with the genera Cupriavidus, Rhodococcus, Burkholderia, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Our results provide further confirmation of the previously stated secondary compound hypothesis that plant metabolites released into the rhizosphere can trigger biodegradation of environmental pollutants, including cDCE.

• MeSH
• Acetophenones metabolism   MeSH
• Aerobiosis MeSH
• Bacteria genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Cinnamates metabolism   MeSH
• Dichloroethylenes metabolism   MeSH
• Phenylethyl Alcohol metabolism   MeSH
• Phenols metabolism   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Hydroxybenzoates metabolism   MeSH
• Soil Pollutants metabolism   MeSH
• Microbial Consortia genetics   MeSH
• Soil Microbiology MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH
• Plants metabolism   MeSH
• Secondary Metabolism MeSH
• Toluene metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

For biodegradable porous scaffolds to have a potential application in cartilage regeneration, they should enable cell growth and differentiation and should have adequate mechanical properties. In this study, our aim was to prepare biocompatible scaffolds with improved biomechanical properties. To this end, we have developed foam scaffolds from poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) with incorporated chitosan microparticles. The scaffolds were prepared by a salt leaching technique from either 10 or 15 wt% PCL solutions containing 0, 10 and 20 wt% chitosan microparticles, where the same amount and size of NaCl was used as a porogen in all the cases. PCL scaffolds without and with low amounts of chitosan (0 and 10 wt% chitosan) showed higher DNA content than scaffolds with high amounts of chitosan during a 22-day experiment. 10 wt% PCL with 10 and 20 wt% chitosan showed significantly increased viscoelastic properties compared to 15 wt% PCL scaffolds with 0 and 10 wt% chitosan. Thus, 10 wt% PCL scaffolds with 0 wt% and 10 wt% chitosan are potential scaffolds for cartilage regeneration.

• MeSH
• Biocompatible Materials administration & dosage   chemistry   MeSH
• Cartilage cytology   physiology   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microspheres * MeSH
• Polyesters administration & dosage   chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Guided Tissue Regeneration methods   MeSH
• Tissue Scaffolds * MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH