Dominant hydrophobic interactions with beta-glucan in nanoarchitectonics with mixed Langmuir monolayers of cholesterol/dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline

Author(s)

Souza, Adriano L. ; Oliveira, Osvaldo N.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOINTERPHASES; v. 17, n. 3, p. 7-pg., 2022-05-01.

Abstract

The polysaccharide beta-glucan, found in the cell wall of cereals such as wheat, oats, and barley, is believed to lower the concentration of bad cholesterol in humans, but the molecular-level mechanisms responsible for such an action are unknown. In this study, we use Langmuir monolayers of cholesterol and dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) as cell membrane models that are made to interact with beta-glucan. Neat cholesterol and mixed cholesterol/DPPC monolayers were expanded upon incorporating beta-glucan from the aqueous subphase. This incorporation was found to induce ordering in mixed monolayers and dehydration of the carbonyl group at higher cholesterol concentrations. These effects are attributed to hydrophobic interactions as identified with polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. They correlate well with the hypothesis that cholesterol levels can be lowered by the formation of soluble fibers with beta-glucan through hydrophobic interactions, blocking cholesterol absorption by the organism. Published under an exclusive license by the AVS. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/24136-4 - Reactivity of hybrid films containing polyoxometalates toward pesticides
• Grantee: Adriano Lopes de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/22214-6 - Towards a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants