Nanostructure of polysaccharide complexes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Sílvia Coelho (Author) FEUP; Susana Moreno Flores (Author) Other; José L. Toca-Herrera (Author) Other; Manuel A. N. Coelho (Author) FEUP; M. Carmo Pereira (Author) FEUP; Sandra Rocha (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science

Vol. 363

Pages: 450-455

ISSN: 0021-9797

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 28 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Associated Projects

SIMBIO - Implantes inteligentes utilizando bionanocompósitos

BIONANO - Distibuição de biomoleculas através de nanopartículas inorganica/organicas

Referência: PTDC/QUI-BIQ/102827/2008 - Concepção de péptidos fluorados para inibição da agregação do péptido beta-amilóide e avaliação da sua actividade biológica

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-JN2

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.07.098

Abstract (EN): The interaction of gum arabic (GA) with chitosan (Ch) of different degree of deacetylation was studied by turbidity measurements, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy. The structure of the complexes was found to be directly related to the charge density of chitosan molecules. Gum arabic and chitosan with a degree of deacetylation of 75% form soluble complexes with a loosely globular structure of about 250 nm, at weight ratios up to 1.2, if the concentrations are kept low (total biopolymer concentration up to 0.06%). If chitosan has a higher charge density (degree of deacetylation of 93%), colloidal particles are formed, independently of the polymer concentration or ratio. At low concentrations and GA/Ch ratios of 1 or 1.2, the particles have diameters of 200-250 nm. The formation of soluble complexes is attributed to a chitosan lower charge density and the presence of non-charged monomers, which prevent the efficient self-assembly of the macromolecules.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6