The effect of the monocyclic monoterpene tertiary alcohol γ-terpineol on biointerfaces containing cholesterol.

The compound γ-terpineol, which presents potential as microbicide and anticancer drug, was incorporated in cholesterol Langmuir monolayers, pure or mixed with DPPC. The compound expands the monolayers at higher molecular areas, but condenses them at lower areas, indicating a structural molecular rearrangement of γ-terpineol at the-water interface upon compression. Such effect was confirmed with rheological, surface potential, Brewster angle microscopy and infrared data, which indicated, respectively, reduction of the compressional modulus of the lipid monolayer, decrease of the surface potential, formation of aggregates, and alteration of the trans/gauche conformers ratio for methylene groups. Distinctive effects were observed for cholesterol monolayers without or with the presence of DPPC. Such results may help understand how the interaction of γ-terpineol with lipidic surfaces is modulated by lipids able to mediate the packing state of biointerfaces.

Gold nanoparticle-carboxymethyl cellulose nanocolloids for detection of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) using laser light scattering immunoassay.

It is estimated that over 100 million people have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) resulting in approximately 30 million deaths globally. Herein, we designed and developed novel nano-immunoconjugates using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) biopolymer, which performed simultaneously as an eco-friendly in situ reducing agent and surface stabilizing ligand for the aqueous colloidal process. These AuNPs-CMC nanocolloids were biofunctionalized with the gp41 glycoprotein receptor (AuNPs-CMC-gp41) or HIV monoclonal antibodies (AuNPs-CMC_PolyArg-abHIV) for detection using the laser light scattering immunoassay (LIA). These AuNPs-CMC bioengineered nanoconjugates were extensively characterized by morphological and physicochemical methods, which demonstrated the formation of spherical nanocrystalline colloidal AuNPs with the average size from 12 to 20 nm and surface plasmon resonance peak at 520 nm. Thus, stable nanocolloids were formed with core-shell nanostructures composed of AuNPs and biomacromolecules of CMC-gp41, which were cytocompatible based on in vitro cell viability results. The AuNPs-CMC-gp41 nanoconjugates were tested against HIV monoclonal antibodies conjugates (AuNPs-CMC_PolyArg-abHIV) using the light scattering immunoassay (LIA) where they behaved as active nanoprobes for the detection at nM level of HIV-1 antigenic proteins. This strategy offers a novel nanoplatform for creating bioprobes using green nanotechnology for the detection of HIV-1 and other virus-related diseases.

Nano hydroxyapatite-blasted titanium surface creates a biointerface able to govern Src-dependent osteoblast metabolism as prerequisite to ECM remodeling.

Over the last several years, we have focused on the importance of intracellular signaling pathways in dynamically governing the biointerface between pre-osteoblast and surface of biomaterial. Thus, this study investigates the molecular hallmarks involved in the pre-osteoblast relationship with different topography considering Machined (Mc), Dual Acid-Etching (DAE), and nano hydroxyapatite-blasted (nHA) groups. There was substantial differences in topography of titanium surface, considering Atomic Force Microscopy and water contact angle (Mc = 81.41 ±â€¯0.01; DAE = 97.18 ±â€¯0.01; nHA = 40.95 ±â€¯0.02). Later, to investigate their topography differences on biological responses, pre-osteoblast was seeded on the different surfaces and biological samples were collected after 24 h (to consider adhesion signaling) and 10 days (to consider differentiation signaling). Preliminary results evidenced significant differences in morphological changes of pre-osteoblasts mainly resulting from the interaction with the DAE and nHA, distinguishing cellular adaptation. These results pushed us to analyze activation of specific genes by exploring qPCR technology. In sequence, we showed that Src performs crucial roles during cell adhesion and later differentiation of the pre-osteoblast in relationship with titanium-based biomaterials, as our results confirmed strong feedback of the Src activity on the integrin-based pathway, because integrin-ß1 (∼5-fold changes), FAK (∼12-fold changes), and Src (∼3.5-fold changes) were significantly up-expressed when Src was chemically inhibited by PP1 (5 µM). Moreover, ECM-related genes were rigorously reprogrammed in response to the different surfaces, resulting on Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) activities concomitant to a significant decrease of MMP inhibitors. In parallel, we showed PP1-based Src inhibition promotes a significant increase of MMP activity. Taking all our results into account, we showed for the first time nano hydroxyapatite-blasted titanium surface creates a biointerface able to govern Src-dependent osteoblast metabolism as pre-requisite to ECM remodeling.

Effective intercalation of zein into Na-montmorillonite: role of the protein components and use of the developed biointerfaces.

Biohybrid materials based on the intercalation of zein, the major storage protein in corn, into sodium-exchanged montmorillonite were prepared following two synthesis strategies. The first one made use of zein dissolved in 80% (v/v) ethanol/water solution, the usual solvent for this protein, while the second method is new and uses a sequential process that implies the previous separation of zein components in absolute ethanol. This treatment of zein with ethanol renders a soluble yellow phase and an agglomerate of insoluble components, which are able to intercalate the layered silicate when an aqueous dispersion of montmorillonite is added to the ethanol medium containing both phases. The diverse steps in this second route were investigated individually in order to understand the underlying mechanism that drives to the intercalation of this complex hydrophobic biomacromolecule into the hydrophilic interlayer space of sodium-exchanged montmorillonite. In addition to physicochemical characterization of the resulting materials, these biohybrid interfaces were also evaluated as biofillers in the preparation of diverse ecofriendly nanocomposites.

Vibrational spectroscopy for probing molecular-level interactions in organic films mimicking biointerfaces.

Investigation into nanostructured organic films has served many purposes, including the design of functionalized surfaces that may be applied in biomedical devices and tissue engineering and for studying physiological processes depending on the interaction with cell membranes. Of particular relevance are Langmuir monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and layer-by-layer (LbL) films used to simulate biological interfaces. In this review, we shall focus on the use of vibrational spectroscopy methods to probe molecular-level interactions at biomimetic interfaces, with special emphasis on three surface-specific techniques, namely sum frequency generation (SFG), polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The two types of systems selected for exemplifying the potential of the methods are the cell membrane models and the functionalized surfaces with biomolecules. Examples will be given on how SFG and PM-IRRAS can be combined to determine the effects from biomolecules on cell membrane models, which include determination of the orientation and preservation of secondary structure. Crucial information for the action of biomolecules on model membranes has also been obtained with PM-IRRAS, as is the case of chitosan removing proteins from the membrane. SERS will be shown as promising for enabling detection limits down to the single-molecule level. The strengths and limitations of these methods will also be discussed, in addition to the prospects for the near future.

Effect of carrageenans of different chemical structures in biointerfaces: a Langmuir film study.

Carrageenans have unique properties in the pharmaceutical and food industries that involve interactions with lipid interfaces, which may be accessed if surface chemistry techniques are employed. The interaction between three different types of carrageenans with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) was investigated using Langmuir monolayers as biointerface models. With a combination of data on Surface Pressure-Area Isotherms and Polarization Modulation Infrared Reflection-Absorption Spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), the effect of different fractions on DPPC monolayers was compared by considering the chemical and structural differences as well as the anticoagulant activity of each fraction. Thus, a model is proposed in which carrageenans can encompass interactions that are maximized due to geometrical adaptations on behalf of the interactions between polysaccharide sulfate groups and lipid polar heads.