The group of Zijian CHENG used the concept of rose petal surface structures to develop an elastomeric material which could be used as an elastic substrate for flexible conductive materials. Compared with conventional flat polydimethylsiloxane substrates, elastomeric petals have biomimicking topographic surfaces that can effectively inhibit the propagation of microcracks formed in the conducting layer, […]
CAS Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics develops novel microporous polymer for safer drinking water
The group of Weiqiao DENG has developed a perfluorinated conjugated microporous polymer (PFCMP with a super-hydrophobic surface area, which absorbs a wide range of organic solvents, oil, dyes and heavy metal ions with very good adsorption capacity, adsorption kinetics and regeneration. Dye adsorption capacity reached 1377mg/g, lead ion adsorption capacity 808mg/g, arsenic ion adsorption capacity […]
CAS Kunming Institute of Zoology Institute studies non-mulberry silkworms in view of silk improvement
By epigenetic analysis of genomes of silkworm-related insects, the group of Wen WANG at the CAS Institute of Zoology has generated evidence that disparate features of silk—coloration, retention, strength—are likely not only due to silk proteins, but also to the environment of silk assembly, and more specifically, that stable silk coloration exhibited by some Saturniidae […]
Group at CAS Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai, finds trick for long-term expansion of adult muscle stem cells
Ping HU and colleagues have identified the presence of T cells as critical for prolonged muscle stem cell expansion. By analyzing the the T cell cytokines responsible for this effect and adding them to muscle stem cell cultivations, they achieved 1018 fold cell expansion and stability for over 20 passages. CAS news release, May 22, […]
Novozymes releases protease-containing liquid detergent through Liby joint venture in Guangzhou
The detergent contains Savinase and ist he first enzyme-containing liquid detergent in the Chinese market. China Bio news release, May 22, 2015
Minhai Biological Technology Co., a leading astaxanthin producers, builds new center in Weihai City, Shandong
Minhai Biological Technology Co. is a vaccine producer but will also enter astaxanthin production. The new center will focus on aspects of astaxanthin R&D, production and sales. Minhai Biological Technology Co. is a member of the Defeng Lida (Polytechnic) Group which also invests in new materials, mineral resources, asset management, tourism and movies. China Bio […]
China FDA approves clinical trials for β-aminoarteether maleate for treatment of Lupus erythematosus (SLE)
SLE occurs 10x more often among Asians as compared to Westerners, and 2.2 million people are said tob e infected in China, India and Mexico. β-Aminoarteether maleate is an active ingredient of Artemisia annua. CAS news release, May 21, 2015
CAS Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology engineers carbonyl reductase for enantioselective reduction of ß-amino ketones
The team of Dunming ZHU has engineered a carbonyl reductase from Sporobolomyces salmonicolor to reduce several ß-amino ketones such as 3-(dimethylamino)-1-(2-thienyl)-propan-1-one, an important intermediate in antidepressant drugs, with over 90 % ee tot he R- or S-enantiomeric alcohols. CAS news release, May 20, 2015
Baolingbao Co., a leader in functional sugars, improves isomaltooligosaccaride technology
The bioengineering company located in Yucheng, Shandong Province, is a leading enterprise for the production of functional sugars and polysaccharides. These are produced from plants as well as through enzyme and fermentation technology. Through cooperation with Tianjin’s CAS Institute of Industrial Microbiology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, and others, technologies such as improved glucosidases, enzyme immobilization, simulated […]
Giant Panda relies on bamboo food but harbors carnivore-like gut microbiota
As shown by Zhihe ZHANG, Director of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding by 16S rRNA analysis of 121 fecal samples of 45 giant pandas throughout one year, the animals digest on average 12,5 kg of bamboo leaves and stems per day but have an extremely low gut microbiota diversity similar to carnivorous […]