Research Topics(Published topics only)
1. Successive conversion of plant biomass to ethanol by using zwitterionic liquids
All biomass solvents, including ionic liquids, are highly toxic. Therefore, after the biomass was dissolved and hydrolyzed, it could not be continuously fermented by microorganisms. We have developed a "carboxylate-type zwitterionic liquid" which has high biocompatibility. The biocompatible zwitterionic liquid enabled one-pot ethanol production—continuous dissolution, hydrolysis, and fermentation in one reaction pot. It leads to significant energy-saving.
Published papers
1. K. Kuroda*, H. Satria, K. Miyamura, Y. Tusge, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Design of Wall-Destructive but Membrane-Compatible Solvents
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 139, 16052-16055 (2017)
Supplementary Cover
2. H. Satria, K. Kuroda*, Y. Tsuge, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Dimethyl sulfoxide enhances both cellulose dissolution ability and biocompatibility of a carboxylate-type liquid zwitterion
New. J. Chem., 42, 13225-13228 (2018)
Front Cover
3. G. Sharma, K. Takahashi, K. Kuroda*
Polar Zwitterion/Saccharide-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Cellulose Dissolution
Carbohydr. Polym., 267, 118171 (2021)
4. T. Komori, H. Satria, K. Miyamura, A. Ito, M. Kamiya, A. Sumino, T. Onishi, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, J. L. Anderson, T. Uto*, K. Kuroda*
Essential requirements of biocompatible cellulose solvents
ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 9, 11825-11836 (2021)
5. R. Kadokawa, T. Endo, Y. Yasaka, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, K. Kuroda*
Cellulose preferentially dissolved over xylan in ionic liquids through precise anion interaction regulated by bulky cations
ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 9, 8686-8691 (2021)
Supplementary Cover
6. F. Jesusa, H. Passos, A. M. Ferreira, K. Kuroda, J. L. Pereira, F. Gonçalves, J. A. P. Coutinho, S. P.M. Ventura*
Zwitterionic compounds are less ecotoxic than their analogous ionic liquid
Green Chem., 23, 3683-3692 (2021)
2. Zwitterionic liquids as novel non-aqueous solvents in life sciences
On the other hand, We thought that the low-toxicity zwitterionic liquids we reported could solve the issue of DMSO toxicity. The toxicity of the zwitterionic liquids was lower than that of DMSO, and it did not affect zebrafish embryos unlike DMSO. DMSO is also known to affect cell functions (e.g., cell cycle and iPS cell differentiation), but the zwitterionic liquids did not. These results suggest that the zwitterionic liquids can be novel non-aqueous solvents that exceed DMSO.
2-1. Zwitterionic liquids as cryoprotectants
Published papers
1. K. Kuroda*, T. Komori, K. Ishibashi, T. Uto, I. Kobayashi, R. Kadokawa, Y. Kato, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata*
Non-aqueous, zwitterionic solvent as an alternative for dimethyl sulfoxide in the life sciences
Commun. Chem., 3, 163 (2020)
Open Access
2. Y. Kato, T. Uto, D. Tanaka, K. Ishibashi, A. Kobayashi, M. Hazawa, R. W. Wong, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata*, K. Kuroda*
Synthetic zwitterions as efficient non-permeable cryoprotectants
Commun. Chem., in press (2021)
Open Access
2-2. Zwitterionic liquids as solvents for poorly water-soluble drugs
Furthermore, there are many drugs that do not dissolve even in DMSO or ethanol at all, and therefore evaluation of their efficacy has been impossible. The zwitterionic liquids are also expected to dissolve such insoluble drugs.
Published papers
1. K. Kuroda*, T. Komori, K. Ishibashi, T. Uto, I. Kobayashi, R. Kadokawa, Y. Kato, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata*
Non-aqueous, zwitterionic solvent as an alternative for dimethyl sulfoxide in the life sciences
Commun. Chem. 3, 163 (2020)
Open Access
2. R. Kadokawa, T. Fujie, G. Sharma, K. Ishibashi, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata*, K. Kuroda*
High loading of trimethylglycine promotes aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble cisplatin
Sci. Rep., 11, 9770 (2021)
Open Access
3. Development of low-cost and quick synthsis of zwitterionic liquids
Published papers
1. G. Sharma, Y. Kato, A. Hachisu, K. Ishibashi, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata, Kosuke Kuroda*
Synthesis of a cellulose dissolving liquid zwitterion from general and low-cost reagents
Cellulose, 29, 3017-3024 (2022)
2. T. Komori, Y. Kato, K. Ishibashi, K. Ninomiya, N. Wada, D. Hirose, K. Takahashi, E. Hirata, K. Kuroda*
Characterization and Application of Carboxylate-type zwitterions synthesized by one-step
J. Ion. Liq., 2, 100027 (2022)
Previous topics
Direct preparation of “Kampo” gels from herbal medicinal plants
Published papers
1. C. Kodo, K. Kuroda*, K. Miyazaki, H. Ueda, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Direct preparation of gels from herbal medicinal plants by using a low toxicity liquid zwitterion
Polym. J., 467-472 (2020)
Flame-retardant thermoplastics derived from plants
Published papers
1. R. Nishita, K. Kuroda*, S. Ota, T. Endo, S. Suzuki, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Flame-retardant thermoplastics derived from plant cell wall polymers by single ionic liquid substitution
New. J. Chem., 43, 2057-2064 (2019)
2. R. Nishita, K. Kuroda*, S. Suzuki, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Flame-retardant plant thermoplastics directly prepared by single ionic liquid substitution
Polym. J., 51, 781–789 (2019)
Switchable ionic liquids from/to zwitterions
Published papers
1. K. Kuroda*, Y. Shimada, K. Takahashi
CO2-triggered fine tune of electrical conductivity via tug-of-war between ions
New J. Chem., 42, 15528-15532 (2018)
Front Cover
2. K. Kuroda*, Y. Shimada, K. Takahashi
Hand-holding and releasing between the anion and cation to change their macroscopic behavior in water
Green Energy Envrion., 4, 127-130 (2019)
Lignin-derived compatibilizing agents for carbon fiber reinforced plastics
Published papers
1. H. Sakai, K. Kuroda*(co-first author), S. Muroyama, T. Tsukegi, R. Kakuchi, K. Takada, A. Hata, R. Kojima, T. Ogoshi, M. Omichi, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi
Alkylated alkali lignin for compatibilizing agents of carbon fiber reinforced plastics with polypropylene
Polym. J., 50, 281-284 (2018)
2. H. Sakai, K. Kuroda*(co-first author), T. Tsukegi, T. Ogoshi, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi*
Butylated lignin as a compatibilizing agent for polypropylene–based carbon fiber-reinforced plastics
Polym. J., 50, 997-1002, (2018)
Hydrolysis of cellulose by acidic ionic liquids
Published papers
1. K. Kuroda*, K. Miyamura, H. Satria, K. Takada, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi*
Hydrolysis of cellulose using an acidic and hydrophobic ionic liquid, and subsequent separation of glucose aqueous solution from the ionic liquid and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural
ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 4, 3352-3356 (2016)
2. K. Kuroda, K. Inoue, K. Miyamura, K. Takada, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi*
Enhanced Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass Assisted by a Combination of Acidic Ionic Liquids and Microwave Heating
J. Chem. Eng. Jpn., 49, 809-813 (2016)
3. H. Satria, K. Kuroda*(co-first author), T. Endo, K. Takada, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi*
Efficient hydrolysis of polysaccharides in bagasse by in situ synthesis of an acidic ionic liquid after pretreatment
ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 5, 708-713 (2017)
4. K. Kuroda*, K. Inoue, K. Miyamura, K. Takada, K. Ninomiya, K. Takahashi*
Efficient Hydrolysis of Lignocellulose by Acidic Ionic Liquids under Low-Toxic Condition to Microorganisms
Catalysts, 7, 108 (2017)
Open Access