Modulation of physical properties of reverse hexagonal mesophases: a dielectric spectroscopy study.

The structural, dynamic, and kinetic aspects of the HII systems based on glycerol monooleate (GMO), phosphatidylcholine (PC), triacylglycerol (TAG), and water were investigated by dielectric spectroscopy in a frequency range of 10(-2)-10(6) Hz, and a temperature range of 290-320 K. Three distinct processes as well as a temperature-activated dc conductivity were detected and examined. These were assigned to the reorientation of the GMO polar heads, the tangential movement of counterions at the interface, the transport of TAGs through the lipids tails, and the ion mobility within the water cylinders. Upon addition of PC, the critical temperature (T0) of the dehydration of the GMO headgroups increased. The optimal concentration found for structural stabilization of the HII mesophase was 10 wt% PC, since it imparted the strongest bonding at the interfacial layer and increased the association between the lipid tails. Within the HII cluster, TAG percolated and shifted between the hexagonal rods themselves. The present study demonstrated the benefit of controlling the critical temperature of the HII mesophase partial dehydration and softening, as well as the percolation of TAGs. These factors influence the diffusion mode of embedded drugs in the physiological temperature range.

The role of glycerol and phosphatidylcholine in solubilizing and enhancing insulin stability in reverse hexagonal mesophases.

The potential of reverse hexagonal mesophases based on monoolein (GMO) and glycerol (as cosolvent) to facilitate the solubilization of proteins, such as insulin was explored. H(II) mesophases composed of GMO/decane/water were compared to GMO/decane/glycerol/water and GMO/phosphatidylcholine (PC)/decane/glycerol/water systems. The stability of insulin was tested, applying external physical modifications such as low pH and heat treatment (up to 70°C), in which insulin is known to form ordered amyloid-like aggregates (that are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases) with a characteristic cross ß-pleated sheet structure. The impact of insulin confinement within these carriers on its stability, unfolding, and aggregation pathways was studied by combining SAXS, FTIR, and AFM techniques. These techniques provided a better insight into the molecular level of the "component interplay" in solubilizing and stabilizing insulin and its conformational modifications that dictate its final aggregate morphology. PC enlarged the water channels while glycerol shrank them, yet both facilitated insulin solubilization within the channels. The presence of glycerol within the mesophase water channels led to the formation of stronger hydrogen bonds with the hosting medium that enhanced the thermal stability of the protein and remarkably affected the unfolding process even after heat treatment (at 70°C for 60 min).

Structural effects of insulin-loading into HII mesophases monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), small angle X-ray spectroscopy (SAXS), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR).

Insulin entrapment within a monoolein-based reverse hexagonal (H(II)) mesophase was investigated under temperature-dependent conditions at acidic (pH 3) and basic (pH 8) conditions. Studying the structure of the host H(II) system and the interactions of insulin under temperature-dependent conditions has great impact on the enhancement of its thermal stabilization and controlled release for the purposes of transdermal delivery. Small angle X-ray spectroscopy (SAXS) measurements show that pH variation and/or insulin entrapment preserve the hexagonal structure and do not influence the lattice parameter. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra indicate that, although insulin interacts with hydroxyl groups of GMO in the interface region, it is not affected by pH variations. Hence different microenvironments within the H(II) mesophase were monitored by a computer-aided electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis using 5-doxylstearic acid (5-DSA) as a pH-dependent probe. The microviscosity, micropolarity, order of systems, and distribution of the probes in different microenvironments were influenced by three factors: temperature, pH, and insulin solubilization. When the temperature is increased, microviscosity and order parameters decreased at both pH 3 and 8, presenting different decrease trends. It was found that, at pH 3, the protein perturbs the lipid structure while "pushing aside" the un-ionized 5-DSA probe to fit into the narrow water cylinders. At the interface region (pH 8), the probe was distributed in two differently structured environments that significantly modifies by increasing temperature. Insulin loading within the H(II) mesophase decreased the order and microviscosity of both the microenvironments and increased their micropolarity. Finally, the EPR analysis also provides information about the unfolding/denaturation of insulin within the channel at high temperatures.

Lysozyme entrapped within reverse hexagonal mesophases: physical properties and structural behavior.

A model protein (lysozyme) was incorporated into monoolein-based reverse hexagonal (H(II)) mesophase and its structure effects were characterized by small angle X-ray scattering, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and rheological measurements. Modifications in molecular organization of the H(II) mesophases as well as the conformational stability of lysozyme (LSZ) as a function of pH and denaturating agent (urea) were clarified. Up to 3 wt.% LSZ can be solubilized into the H(II). The vibration FTIR analysis revealed that LSZ interacted with OH groups of glycerol monooleate (GMO) in the outer interface region, resulting in strong hydrogen bonding between the surfactant and its environment. Simultaneously, the decrease in the hydrogen-bonded carbonyl population of GMO was monitored, indicating dehydration of the monoolein carbonyls. These molecular interactions yielded a minor decrease in the lattice parameter of the systems, as detected by small angle X-ray scattering. Furthermore, LSZ was crystallized within the medium of the hexagonal structures in a single crystal form. The alpha-helix conformation of lysozyme was stabilized at high pH conditions, demonstrating greater helical structure content, compared to D(2)O solution. Moreover, the hexagonal phase decreased the unfavorable alpha-->beta transition in lysozyme, thereby increasing the stability of the protein under chemical denaturation. The rheological behavior of the hexagonal structures varied with the incorporation of LSZ, reflected in stronger elastic properties and pronounced solid-like response of the systems. The hydrogen bonding enhancement in the interface region of the structures was most likely responsible for these phenomena. The results of this study provided valuable information on the use of hexagonal systems as a carrier for incorporation and stabilization of proteins for various applications.

Temperature-dependent behavior of lysozyme within the reverse hexagonal mesophases (H(II)).

This manuscript is the second part of a study on the structural behavior of lysozyme-loaded reverse hexagonal mesophases. In the current paper we focused mainly on the mutual temperature-dependency relationship between the protein and the mesophase. The conformational stability of the enzyme and the structural effects on the host system were characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence, and rheological measurements. It was found that the mesophase does not change the solubilized lysozyme (LSZ) active site conformation. The obtained data suggested that LSZ embedment within the H(II) mesophase improved its thermal stability by hampering its helical structure destruction, apparently due to hydrogen bonding of the protein with monoolein polar heads. Examination of the structural parameters of the hexagonal carrier revealed a strong thermal dependency. The lattice parameter of both empty and LSZ-loaded systems had a similar temperature-dependent behavior. However, comparing the domain size of the LSZ-loaded system to the empty system showed different trends. LSZ incorporation induced a decrease in crystal size and lower order at room temperature. Nevertheless, an increase in domain size was triggered by the enzyme at elevated temperatures, in contrast to its decrease in the empty carriers. Rheological measurements showed concentration-dependent elasticity in the presence of LSZ compared to the empty system, which took place in a concentration-dependent manner at all examined temperatures. Up to 60 degrees C, the elasticity of the LSZ-loaded hexagonal systems decreased with temperature increase. This finding was interpreted in the context of weakening and/or cleaving of the monoolein hydroxyls' interactions with the protein, leading to partial reconstitution of the initially low domain size and elasticity decrease. However, in the range of 60-75 degrees C (in most systems), the prevailing effect was thermally induced dehydration of the monoglyceride hydrophilic heads, which imposed elasticity increase, owing to enhanced flow ability of the liquid crystalline structure.