Effects of acephate insecticide in simple models of lipid membrane based on Langmuir films and GUVs: molecular level interactions and morphological effects

• Grant number: 18/01984-8
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino
• Grantee: Luis Fernando Do Carmo Morato
• Home 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): 18/23123-4 - Micelle-to-vesicle transition technique applied to investigate the effect of the insecticide acephate on lipid bilayers, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

This master degree project is based on the concern with the use of the agrochemicals in plantation, mainly in Brazil, which is the world's largest consumer of these products. These compounds, although they are a necessity to fight against the pests and diseases in large-scale plantations, can also do undesirable consequences for environment and humans (consumption of contaminated food and water). Thus, the studies that investigate possible effects of these potentially harmful agents in humans, in terms of health consequences and molecular effects in living organisms, are necessary. Considering this last study form, we propose the investigation of the insecticide acephate effects in simple models, which mimic the lipid structure of the cell membrane, mainly in terms of chemical interaction and morphological changes. Although the relative simplicity in relation to the cell membranes, these models allow obtaining information, which, in good proportion, can be extrapolated to living systems. These models are based on lipidic monolayers (Langmuir films) and bilayers (GUVs - giant unilamellar vesicles), choosing lipids with complementary molecular structures to allow identifying the role played by each chemical group of the lipid in presence of acephate. Langmuir films (lipid monolayers) will be characterized by surface pressure versus mean molecular area isotherms (monolayer structure), Brewster angle microscopy (morphology), and in-situ infrared absorption (chemical interaction at molecular level). GUVs (lipid bilayer) morphology will be characterized by phase contrast and confocal fluorescence microscopies. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MORATO, Luis Fernando Do Carmo. Effects of insecticide acephate on simple models of lipid membranes based on Langmuir films and GUVs: molecular level interactions and morphological changes. 2021. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências. Bauru Bauru.