Studying the interaction of antiprotozoal acetogenins with membrane models utilizing mixed Langmuir films of lipids and mucins

• Grant number: 23/16020-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 12, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luciano Caseli
• Grantee: Matheus Elias Rosa
• Supervisor: Elodie Boisselier
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Laval, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/15084-1 - Interaction of natural acetogenins with biological activity in membrane models at the air-water interface, BP.DD

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the adsorption of mucins, crucial surface glycoproteins found on protozoan membranes, into Langmuir monolayers composed of DPPE (dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine) and POPE (palmitoyl oleoyl phosphoethanolamine). Additionally, we will explore the interaction between antiprotozoal acetogenins and these hybrid protein-lipid monolayer systems, as well as gold nanoparticles as adjuvant. The resulting data will provide valuable insights into mucins' binding parameters and physicochemical properties with model microbial membranes, shedding light on the impact of unsaturated acetogenins on these systems. We will employ various tensiometric measurements to analyze the films to achieve this. Protein binding parameters, such as maximum insertion pressure (MIP) and synergy, will be calculated based on the experimental data. Our overarching goal is to enhance our understanding of protein binding on membranes and unravel the effects of acetogenins within mixed film-protein systems.