Structural, conformational and orientational effects involved in the chitosan interaction with cell membrane models

• Grant number: 10/07178-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal researcher: Sérgio Paulo Campana Filho
• Grantee: Adriana Pavinatto da Costa
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chitosan is a polysaccharide with applicability in many areas due to its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. In some of these applications, chitosan interaction occurs directly with cells, mainly through electrostatic interactions between positive charges of the polyelectrolyte and the "polar head" of the negatively charged phospholipids of the membrane. Even though the electrostatic are the main interaction forces, they are not the only form of interaction between chitosan and the cell membrane. In this project we plan to investigate effects that act in synergy with the electrostatic interactions to understand the mechanisms of chitosan action. This will be pursued by producing and characterizing chitosan derivatives through the acylation reaction, which are soluble in chloroform. Then these derivatives will be used to obtain Langmuir films either in their neat form or mixed with phospholipids. In this synthesis the hydroxyl groups of chitosan will be replaced by acyl chains with 14 or 16 carbons, but the amine group will be preserved. We shall therefore be able to evaluate: i) the contribution from the hydroxyl groups in the hydrogen bonds and ii) the quantifity of charged groups (amine) at the interface interacting with the membranes. It is known from the literature that the polymer chain arrangement is essential for the interaction with the membrane models. For this reason, we shall evaluate and control the conformation of chitosan in solution, verifying its effect on the interaction with phospholipid Langmuir films, with a possible preferential orientation of chitosan at the interface.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAVINATTO, ADRIANA; DELEZUK, JORGE A. M.; SOUZA, ADRIANO L.; PAVINATTO, FELIPPE J.; VOLPATI, DIOGO; MIRANDA, PAULO B.; CAMPANA-FILHO, SERGIO P.; OLIVEIRA, JR., OSVALDO N. Experimental evidence for the mode of action based on electrostatic and hydrophobic forces to explain interaction between chitosans and phospholipid Langmuir monolayers. COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES, v. 145, p. 201-207, SEP 1 2016. Web of Science Citations: 10.