Water-borne polyurethane-ureas added with plant extracts with bacteriostatic characteristics

The environmental awareness has promoted the development of new materials towards eco-friendly systems based on both, green synthesis processes and raw-materials of renewable origin. In this way, focusing the synthesis methods, the use of waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions has gained attention due to their versatility leading to a wide variety of applications [1], broadening the range of applications. In addition, it is worth noting that the dispersibility in water offers the possibility of incorporating water compatible additives, such as plant extracts obtained by aqueous-based extraction procedures. Therefore, in this work bioactive plant extracts from Melissa officinalis L. [2] were incorporated into waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersions (WBPUU), varying their content and using three different incorporation routes. These dispersions were characterized and employed in the preparation of films which were analyzed from the viewpoint of physicochemical, thermal, thermomechanical and mechanical properties as well as their morphology, among others. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the films were analyzed after 1 and 4 days of incubation, where it was observed that the content and incorporation route of the extracts has influenced the behavior of the films against common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).Financial support from the Basque Government in the frame of Grupos Consolidados (IT-776-13), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2016-76294-R) and technical support provided by SGIker (UPV/EHU), UID/AGR/00690/2013 (CIMO) and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 (LA LSRE-LCM) are gratefully acknowledged.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MYADM regulates Rac1 targeting to ordered membranes required for cell spreading and migration

Membrane organization into condensed domains or rafts provides molecular platforms for selective recruitment of proteins. Cell migration is a general process that requires spatiotemporal targeting of Rac1 to membrane rafts. The protein machinery responsible for making rafts competent to recruit Rac1 remains elusive. Some members of the MAL family of proteins are involved in specialized processes dependent on this type of membrane. Because condensed membrane domains are a general feature of the plasma membrane of all mammalian cells, we hypothesized that MAL family members with ubiquitous expression and plasma membrane distribution could be involved in the organization of membranes for cell migration. We show that myeloid-associated differentiation marker (MYADM), a protein with unique features within the MAL family, colocalizes with Rac1 in membrane protrusions at the cell surface and distributes in condensed membranes. MYADM knockdown (KD) cells had altered membrane condensation and showed deficient incorporation of Rac1 to membrane raft fractions and, similar to Rac1 KD cells, exhibited reduced cell spreading and migration. Results of rescue-of-function experiments by expression of MYADM or active Rac1L61 in cells knocked down for Rac1 or MYADM, respectively, are consistent with the idea that MYADM and Rac1 act on parallel pathways that lead to similar functional outcomes