Bisphenol-A as an emerging pollutant: study of its effects on membrane models with different compositions

• Grant number: 18/02898-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Priscila Alessio Constantino
• Grantee: Gabriela de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/14262-7 - Nanostructured films from biologically-relevant materials, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/21006-0 - Bisphenol-A electrochemical detection using phthalocyanine based carbon paste electrodes, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

This work aims the study of the interaction between the phospholipids DPPC (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine), and DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) with the emerging pollutant Bisphenol- A (2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane) using biological membrane models. The DPPC and DOPC phospholipids have the same hydrophilic head; however the DOPC has two unsaturations in the hydrophobic chain, and the DPPC is saturated. The emerging pollutant is an endocrine interferant used in the production of epoxy resins, polycarbonates, foams and as antioxidant polymers, which are widely used in various food packaging. Langmuir films will be used as mimetic membranes will be to investigate the interaction of the bisphenol-A with the monolayer of the phospholipids. Surface pressure by average molecular area isotherms and compressibility analysis will be carried out in the presence and absence of the pollutant. Also, the monolayers in the absence and presence of bisphenol-A will be deposited by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique on mica and gold mirror for the analysis of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and infrared microspectroscopy with Fourier transform, respectively. The main objective is to contribute to the understanding the chemical and morphological process involved on the possible effects of the pollutant of emerging concern to the human health. It is important to emphasize this study is part of a complete study of the research group in which it is inserted. The global project seeks to evaluate the effects of emerging pollutants on human and animal health focusing on different mimetic membrane compositions as well as the possible synergistic effects of mixtures of emerging pollutants of the same class (additive effect) or different classes (cocktail effect).