Virus-like Particles as Nanocarriers for Intracellular Delivery of Biomolecules and Compounds.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanostructures assemble from viral proteins. Besides widely used for vaccine development, VLPs have also been explored as nanocarriers for cargo delivery as they combine the key advantages of viral and non-viral vectors. While it protects cargo molecules from degradation, the VLP has good cell penetrating property to mediate cargo passing the cell membrane and released into cells, making the VLP an ideal tool for intracellular delivery of biomolecules and drugs. Great progresses have been achieved and multiple challenges are still on the way for broad applications of VLP as delivery vectors. Here we summarize current advances and applications in VLP as a delivery vector. Progresses on delivery of different types of biomolecules as well as drugs by VLPs are introduced, and the strategies for cargo packaging are highlighted which is one of the key steps for VLP mediated intracellular delivery. Production and applications of VLPs are also briefly reviewed, with a discussion on future challenges in this rapidly developing field.

Cardioprotective Effects of Aconite in Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a severe clinical condition caused by decreased or complete cessation of blood flow to a portion of the myocardium. Aconite, the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx., is a well-known Chinese medicine for treatment of heart failure and related cardiac diseases. The present study is aimed at investigating the cardioprotective effect of aconite on isoproterenol- (ISO)- induced MI. Methods: The qualitative analysis of aqueous extracts from brained aconite (AEBA) was conducted by HPLC. A rat model of MI induced by ISO was established to examine the effects of AEBA. The cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography. The serum levels of SOD, CK-MB, cTnT, and cTnI were detected to estimate myocardial injury. The pathological changes of heart tissue were evaluated by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and Masson's trichrome staining. The expressions of abnormal vascular remodeling and hypoxia-related components and the levels of inflammation-associated genes and proteins were detected by RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Results: The contents of benzoylaconine, benzoylmesaconine, benzoylhypacoitine, and hypaconitine in AEBA were 1.35 µg/g, 37.35 µg/g, 57.10 µg/g, and 2.46 µg/g, respectively. AEBA obviously improved heart function through promoting echocardiographic parameters, radial strain, and circumferential strain. The data of TTC staining, HE staining, and Masson's trichrome staining disclosed that AEBA could significantly reduce infarct size, inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration, and decrease the myocardial fibrosis. Moreover, AEBA distinctly suppressed the serum levels of SOD, MDA, CK-MB, cTnT, and cTnI in ISO-induced rats. The results of RT-qPCR indicated that AEBA inhibited the expressions of hypoxia- and inflammation-related genes, including VEGF, PKM2, GLUT-1, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and COX2. In addition, the western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses further confirmed the results of RT-qPCR. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that the AEBA could improve ISO-induced myocardial infarction by promoting cardiac function, alleviating myocardial hypoxia, and inhibiting inflammatory response and fibrosis in heart tissue.

Effective asymmetric preparation of (R)-1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanol with recombinant E. coli whole cells in an aqueous Tween-20/natural deep eutectic solvent solution.

(R)-1-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethanol ((R)-MTF-PEL) is an important chiral building block for the synthesis of a neuroprotective compound, (R)-3-(1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethoxy)azetidine-1-carboxamide. In this work, an effective whole-cell-catalyzed biotransformation was developed to produce (R)-MTF-PEL, and its productivity was increased by medium engineering strategy. The recombinant E. coli BL21(DE3)-pET28a(+)-LXCAR-S154Y variant affording carbonyl reductase was adopted for the reduction of 3'-(trifluoromethyl)acetophenone to (R)-MTF-PEL with enantiomeric excess (ee) > 99.9%. The addition of 0.6% Tween-20 (w/v) boosted the bioreduction, because the substrate concentration was increased by 4.0-fold than that in the neat buffer solution. The biocatalytic efficiency was further enhanced by introducing choline chloride: lysine (ChCl:Lys, molar ratio of 1:1) in the reaction medium, because the product yield reached 91.5% under 200 mM substrate concentration in the established Tween-20/ChCl:Lys-containing system, which is the highest ever reported for (R)-MTF-PEL production. The optimal reduction conditions were as follows: 4% (w/v) ChCl:Lys, 12.6 g (DCW)/L recombinant E. coli cells, pH 7.0, 30 ℃ and 200 rpm, reaction for 18 h. The combined strategy of surfactant and NADES has great potential in the biocatalytic process and the synthesis of chiral alcohols.

Enzymatic synthesis of an ezetimibe intermediate using carbonyl reductase coupled with glucose dehydrogenase in an aqueous-organic solvent system.

(4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one ((S)-ET-5) is an important chiral intermediate in the synthesis of chiral side chain of ezetimibe. Recombinant Escherichia coli expressing carbonyl reductase (CBR) was successfully constructed in this study. The total E. coli biomass and the specific activity of recombinant CBR in 5L fermenter culture were 10.9gDCWL-1 and 14900.3Ug-1DCW, respectively. The dual-enzyme coupled biocatalytic process in an aqueous-organic biphasic solvent system was first constructed using p-xylene as the optimal organic phase under optimized reaction conditions, and 150gL-1 (4S)-3-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,5-dioxophentyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (ET-4) was successfully converted to (S)-ET-5 with a conversion of 99.1% and diastereomeric excess of 99% after 24-h, which are the highest values reported to date for the production of (S)-ET-5.

Purification and Immobilization of a Novel Enantioselective Lipase from Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvents for Efficient Resolution of Ethyl 2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) Butyrate.

A highly enantioselective lipase from Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvents E105 was purified via ultrasonic extraction, precipitation, and chromatographic steps. The enzyme was purified about 38-fold with the recovery yield of 9 % and was confirmed as a dimer protein consisting of two identical subunits with a molecular mass of 24 kDa. The purified lipase was used to catalyze resolution of racemic ethyl 2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyrate to (S)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyric acid. The maximum activity of such lipase was obtained at pH 7.5, 35 °C, and the highest relative activity (156.80 %) was observed in the presence of 0.5 mM Co2+. Subsequently, the lipase was encapsulated within a mixture of 3 % sodium alginate and 0.8 % carrageenan, and then cross-linked with 0.6 % glutaraldehyde to enhance its biocatalytic capability and stability. Comparing with 36.9 % product yield and 97.5 % product ee of free lipase, the highest product yield of 46.3 % and ee of 98.5 % for immobilized lipase were achieved with the presence of 20 mM substrate. In addition, the reusability of immobilized lipase was also investigated, which could maintain 63.7 % of its initial conversion yield after seven repeated batch reactions. Thus, the evaluated enantioselective lipase in this work has a good potential for further industrial application.

Enhanced biocatalytic production of L-cysteine by Pseudomonas sp. B-3 with in situ product removal using ion-exchange resin.

Bioconversion of DL-2-amino-Δ(2)-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (DL-ATC) catalyzed by whole cells of Pseudomonas sp. was successfully applied for the production of L-cysteine. It was found, however, like most whole-cell biocatalytic processes, the accumulated L-cysteine produced obvious inhibition to the activity of biocatalyst and reduced the yield. To improve L-cysteine productivity, an anion exchange-based in situ product removal (ISPR) approach was developed. Several anion-exchange resins were tested to select a suitable adsorbent used in the bioconversion of DL-ATC for the in situ removal of L-cysteine. The strong basic anion-exchange resin 201 × 7 exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for L-cysteine and low adsorption for DL-ATC, which is a favorable option. With in situ addition of 60 g L(-1) resin 201 × 7, the product inhibition can be reduced significantly and 200 mmol L(-1) of DL-ATC was converted to L-cysteine with 90.4 % of yield and 28.6 mmol L(-1 )h(-1) of volumetric productivity. Compared to the bioconversion without the addition of resin, the volumetric productivity of L-cysteine was improved by 2.27-fold using ISPR method.

Efficient biocatalytic synthesis of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol by a newly isolated Trichoderma asperellum ZJPH0810 using dual cosubstrate: ethanol and glycerol.

(R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol is a crucial intermediate for the synthesis of Aprepitant. An efficient biocatalytic process for (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol was developed via the asymmetric reduction of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone, catalyzed by whole cells of newly isolated Trichoderma asperellum ZJPH0810 using ethanol and glycerol as dual cosubstrate for cofactor recycling. A fungal strain ZJPH0810, showing asymmetric biocatalytic activity of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone to its corresponding (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol, was isolated from a soil sample. Based on its morphological and physiological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer sequence, this isolate was identified as T. asperellum ZJPH0810, which afforded an NADH-dependent (R)-stereospecific carbonyl reductase and was a promising biocatalyst for the synthesis of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol. Some key reaction parameters involved in the bioreduction catalyzed by T. asperellum ZJPH0810 were subsequently optimized. The effectiveness of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol production was significantly enhanced by employing a novel dual cosubstrate-coupled system for cofactor recycling. The established efficient bioreduction system contained 50 mM of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone and 60 g l(-1) of resting cells, employing ethanol (6.0 %, v/v) and glycerol (0.5 %, v/v) as dual cosubstrate. The bioreduction was performed in distilled water medium, at 30 °C and 200 rpm. Under the above conditions, a best yield of 93.4 % was obtained, which is nearly a 3.5-fold increase in contrast to no addition of cosubstrate. The ee value of the product reached above 98 %. This biocatalytic process shows great potential in the production of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol, a valuable chiral building block in the pharmaceutical industry.

Efficient enantioselective synthesis of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol by Leifsonia xyli CCTCC M 2010241 using isopropanol as co-substrate.

(R)-[3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol is a key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of aprepitant. In this paper, an efficient synthetic process for (R)-[3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol was developed via the asymmetric reduction of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone, catalyzed by Leifsonia xyli CCTCC M 2010241 cells using isopropanol as the co-substrate for cofactor recycling. Firstly, the substrate and product solubility and cell membrane permeability of biocatalysts were evaluated with different co-substrate additions into the reaction system, in which isopropanol manifested as the best hydrogen donor of coupled NADH regeneration during the bioreduction of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone. Subsequently, the optimization of parameters for the bioreduction were undertaken to improve the effectiveness of the process. The determined efficient reaction system contained 200 mM of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone, 20% (v/v) of isopropanol, and 300 g/l of wet cells. The bioreduction was executed at 30°C and 200 rpm for 30 h, and 91.8% of product yield with 99.9% of enantiometric excess (e.e.) was obtained. The established bioreduction reaction system could tolerate higher substrate concentrations of 3,5- bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone, and afforded a satisfactory yield and excellent product e.e. for the desired (R)-chiral alcohol, thus providing an alternative to the chemical synthesis of (R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol.

Effects of ionic liquids on the growth of Arthrobacter simplex and improved biodehydrogenation in an ionic liquid-containing system with immobilized cells.

Dehydrogenated derivatives of corticosteroids are usually more effective than their precursors in treating diseases. In this study, the toxicity of seven water-miscible ionic liquid and three organic solvents to the biocatalyst Arthrobacter simplex UR016 was tested to evaluate the possibility of biodehydrogenation from 17α-hydroxy-16ß-methyl-pregna-4,9(11)-diene-3,20-dione (HMPDD) to 17α-hydroxy-16ß-methyl-pregna-1,4,9(11)-triene-3,20-dione (HMPTD) in an ionic liquid-containing system. Although most tested room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) showed higher toxicities to A. simplex UR016 than organic solvents, bacterial growth was promoted in the presence of [EMIM](L)-Lac or [BMIM](L)-Lac at concentrations below 2.5 mmol/l, especially [EMIM](L)-Lac, presented the lowest toxicity to A. simplex. Following immobilization investigations, a conversion ratio of 89.9 % was achieved with a cell biomass of 10 g/l (dry cell weight/reaction mixture volume) in the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified calcium alginate gel bead, a suitable matrix for cell immobilization. Further studies indicated that the conversion ratio can be improved by increasing cell loading to 60 beads per flask (containing 30 ml reaction mixture). Under optimal conditions with a [EMIM](L)-Lac content of 0.3 %, the conversion ratio reached 93.4 %, the highest value ever reported.

Tsukamurella sp. E105 as a new biocatalyst for highly enantioselective hydrolysis of ethyl 2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyrate.

A new bacterial strain, E105, has been introduced as a biocatalyst for the enantioselective hydrolysis of ethyl (R,S)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyrate, (R,S)-1, to (S)-2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyric acid, (S)-2. This strain was isolated from 60 soil samples using (R,S)-1 as the sole carbon source. The isolate was identified as Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens E105, based on its morphological characteristics, physiological tests, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The process of cell growth and hydrolase production for this strain was then investigated. The hydrolase activity reached its maximum after cultivation at 200 rpm and 30 °C for 36 h. Furthermore, the performance of the enantioselective hydrolysis of (R,S)-1 was studied. The optimal reaction temperature, initial pH, substrate concentration, and concentration of suspended cells were 30 °C, 6.8, 10 and 30 g/l (DCW), respectively. Under these conditions, a high conversion (>45 %) of the product (S)-2 with an excellent enantiomeric excess (ee) (>99 %), and a satisfied enantiomeric ratio (E) (>600) as well were obtained. This study showed that the bacterial isolate T. tyrosinosolvens E105 displayed a high enantioselectivity towards the hydrolysis of racemic ethyl 2-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) butyrate.

Asymmetric biocatalytic reduction of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone to (1R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol using whole cells of newly isolated Leifsonia xyli HS0904.

A novel bacterial strain HS0904 was isolated from a soil sample using 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone as the sole carbon source. This bacterial isolate can asymmetrically reduce 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone to (1R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol with high enantiometric excess (ee) value. Based on its morphological, physiological characteristics, Biolog, 16S rDNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis, strain HS0904 was identified as Leifsonia xyli HS0904. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case on the species L. xyli exhibited R-stereospecific carbonyl reductase and used for the preparation of chiral (1R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol. The optimization of parameters for microbial transformation of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone to (1R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol catalyzed by whole cells of L. xyli HS0904 was carried out by examining some key factors including buffer pH, reaction temperature, shaking speed, substrate concentration, and reaction time. The obtained optimized conditions for the bioreduction are as follows: buffer pH 8.0, 70 mM of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) acetophenone, 100 g l(-1) of glucose as co-substrate, 200 g l(-1) of resting cells as biocatalyst, reaction for 30 h at 30 °C and 200 rpm. Under above conditions, 99.4% of product ee and best yield of 62% were obtained, respectively. The results indicated that isolate L. xyli HS0904 is a novel potential biocatalyst for the production of (1R)-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanol.

[Medium optimization for enhanced production of carbonyl reductase by Candida tropicalis 104 by response surface methodology].

Using response surface method, we optimized the medium for the asymmetric whole cell biotransformation by Candida tropicalis 104. This strain was used for microbial reduction of 1-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] ethanone to (S)-l-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] alcohol, with enantiomeric excess(e.e.) reached more than 99.9%. Fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of medium components on carbonyl reductase activity of Candida tropicalis 104. Yeast extract, glucose and NH4Cl were the most important factors among six tested variables that influence the enzyme activity for the biotransformation process. Based on the experimental results, the path of steepest ascent was undertaken to approach the optimal region of these factors. Central composite design and response surface analysis were subsequently employed for further optimization. The optimal medium for Candida tropicalis 104 was composed of (in g/L): glucose 47.14, yeast extract 13.25, NH4Cl 2.71, MgSO4.7H2O 0.4, KH2PO4 1, K2HPO4 1. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum enzyme activity of 852.75 U/L in theory and 851.13 U/L in the experiment were obtained, with an increase of 65.2% compared to the original medium components.

[Biodehydrogenation of 11beta-hydroxyl melroxyprogesterone by Arthrobacter simplex UR016 in microemulsion system].

To improve mass transfer and enhance the yield for C(1,2) biodehydrogenation of steroid 11beta-hydroxyl medroxyprogesterone, we carried out the dehydrogenation reaction of 11beta-hydroxyl medroxyprogesterone in an oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsion by Arthrobacter simplex UR016. We studied the effects of system composition, dehydrogenation temperature and substrate concentration on microbial transformation. We formulated a suitable O/W microemulsion system with Arthrobacter simplex UR016 culture broth as aqueous phase, 10 g/L of edible oil as oil phase, 4 g/L of Tween-O80 and 7% (V/V) alcohol as surfactant and cosurfactant. The optimal dehydrogenation temperature was 33 degrees C. The results showed that in Tween-80/alcohol/edible oil/water microemulsion system, the hydrophobic steroid was solubilised and diffused effectively, with the maximum conversion rate of 88.6% at 46 h under 4 g/L substrate concentration, an increase of 66.2% compared to that in aqueous system. The C(1,2) biodehydrogenation of 11beta-hydroxyl medroxyprogesterone is more efficient in water-edible oil microemulsion system than in aqueous system.

[Effect of several penetration enharcers on transdermal permeation and skin accumulation of artemether].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate penetration characteristics of artemether and the effect of different permeation enhancer on transdermal permeation of artemether through rat skin. METHOD: The permeation experiments were performed using rat skin on modified Franz diffusion cells in vitro. The concentrations of artemether in receptor compartment at specified time points were determined by HPLC. RESULT: The permeating ratio through human skin of artemether solution was Js (2.78 +/- 0.78) microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), the quantity of drug penetrated through and accumulated in the skin by the end of the experiment were (69.07 +/- 3.01) microg x cm(-2), (58.93 +/- 3.56) microg x cm(-2) respectively. Four different permeation enhancers can improve the transdermal permeation of artemether. CONCLUSION: Artemether have the potential to be developed to new transdermal preparation.

Dual agents loaded PLGA nanoparticles: systematic study of particle size and drug entrapment efficiency.

PLGA nanoparticles simultaneously loaded with vincristine sulfate (VCR) and quercetin (QC) were prepared via O/W emulsion solvent evaporation. Six independent processing parameters and PLGA characteristics were assessed systematically to enhance the incorporation of the dual agents with different properties (VCR and QC, hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecule, respectively) into PLGA nanoparticles and control particle size. Approaches investigated for the enhancement of drug entrapment efficiencies and the controlling of particle size included the influence of the molecular weight (MW) of PLGA and the lactide-to-glycolide (L:G) ratio of PLGA, PLGA concentration, PVA concentration, initial QC content, acetone-to-dichloromethane (A/D) volume ratio, aqueous phase pH and aqueous to organic phase (W/O) volume ratio. The nanoparticles produced by optimal formulation were submicron size (139.5+/-4.3 nm, n=3) with low polydispersity index (0.095+/-0.031, n=3). Nanoparticles observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed extremely spherical shape. The entrapment efficiencies determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by ultracentrifuge method were 92.84+/-3.37% for VCR and 32.66+/-2.92% for QC (n=3). The drug loadings were 0.0037+/-0.0001% for VCR and 1.36+/-0.12% for QC (n=3).

[Comparison of kinetic behavior in both plasma and tissue after intravenous administration of alpha-asarone in lipid emulsion and aqueous solution in rats and mice].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of alpha-asarone in lipid emulsion and aqueous solution for injection and study the feasibility of lipid emulsion of alpha-asarone as the parenteral drug delivery system. METHOD: HPLC was used to determine the drug concentration in rat plasma and mice tissues after intravenous (i.v.) administration of lipid emulsion and aqueous solution of alpha-asarone at a single dose (40 mg x kg(-1)), respectively. RESULT: The plasma concentration-time profiles of lipid emulsion and aqueous solution of alpha-asarone after intravenous administration of them are similar and the drug concentration-time data were fitted to a two-compartment open model. The results of tissues distribution showed that distribution contents of alpha-asarone from lipid emulsion and aqueous solution in vivo are similar in lungs but lipid emulsion increased the uptake in livers and spleens, and decreased the uptake in hearts and kidneys for alpha-asarone. CONCLUSION: The plasma concentration-time profiles of alpha-asarone in lipid emulsion and aqueous solution are similar, but lipid emulsion significantly altered the tissue distribution of alpha-asarone, which may be beneficial to decrease its potential toxicity to heart and kidney.

[Transdermal and lymph targeting transfersomes of vincristine].

Vincristine (VCR) is mainly used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in clinic with definite therapeutic effect. But the obvious neurotoxicity and local stimulation of which limit its clinic use. In order to increase the lymph targeting to enhance the curative effect and to lower the adverse reaction of VCR, the VCR loaded transfersomes (VCR-T) were prepared with dry-film and ultrasonic dispersing methods, and the corresponding pharmaceutical properties, pharmacokinetical characteristics and the targeting ability were studied. The average particle size of VCR-T prepared was 63 nm with an entrapment ratio of 59%. The in vitro transdermal research with modified Franz cell showed that VCR-T permeated through the skin in accordance with polynomial equation, and with an accumulation permeation percentage of 67.4% up to 12 h. An HPLC method was utilized to determine the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of VCR. Compared with the iv injection of VCR solution, the retention time of VCR in blood was extended by 12 times with VCR-T, and the targeting index in rat lymph was increased by 2.75 times. As a result, transfersomes could penetrate the skin and enter into the systemic circulation carrying VCR with good lymph targeting ability, which makes it probably a new lymphtic targeting drug delivery system.

Microbial synthesis of ethyl (R)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutanoate by asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate in an aqueous-organic solvent biphasic system.

In this study, whole cells of Saccharomyces uvarum SW-58 were applied in an aqueous-organic solvent biphasic system for the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate to ethyl (R)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutanoate [(R)-2]. The results of reduction in different aqueous-organic solvent biphasic systems showed that dibutylphthalate provided the best compromise between the biocompatibility and the partition of substrate and product among the solvents tested. To optimize the reaction, several factors such as reaction pH, temperature, shaking speed, volume ratio of the aqueous phase to the organic phase and ratio of biomass/substrate were investigated. It was found that the change of these factors obviously influenced the conversion and initial reaction rate, and had a minor effect on the enatiomeric excess of the product. Under the optimal conditions, 85.0% of conversion and 85.2% of enatiomeric excess were achieved. The bioconversion in the biphasic system was more efficient compared with that in the monophasic aqueous system, and product concentration as high as 54.6 g/L was reached in the organic phase without addition of co-enzyme.