Spectroscopic and microscopic studies on the interaction of model membranes and the food dye Allura Red AC

• Grant number: 23/15385-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 03, 2024
• End date: March 02, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Carlos José Leopoldo Constantino
• Grantee: Carlos Junior Amorim Lessa
• Supervisor: Simona Bettini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università del Salento, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/00291-7 - Effects of the food colorant Allura Red AC on mimetic systems of the lipid structure of the cell membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, BP.IC

Abstract

Despite the growing concern regarding the use of synthetic dyes in foods, their impacts on biological systems have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this BEPE project aims to investigate the interaction between the dye food Allura Red AC and biomembrane models mimicking the lipid structure of the gastrointestinal tract cell membranes. The models will be formed by Langmuir films (lipid monolayers) and large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs - lipid bilayers), containing a ternary mixture of the lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC), 1-palmitoyl -sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (POPE), and sphingomyelin (SM), POPC/POPE/SM 3/1/1, consistent with the chemical composition and fluidity of the in vivo system. The following characterization techniques are available at Lecce/Italy to cover such proposal: the reflection UV-Vis spectroscopy and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) in Langmuir films; the fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the binding constant (Kb) of the AR dye in the POPC/POPE/SM (3/1/1) LUVs. This project, set to be carried out under the supervision of Dr. Simona Bettini's and Ludovico Vali research group, also aims to complement the candidate's experience by incorporating a set of techniques available within a single laboratory. This collaboration will facilitate the integration of new methodologies into the candidate's existing project in the country.