Surface properties of hen egg yolk low-density lipoproteins spread at the air–water interface

Hen egg yolk is largely used as food ingredient notably because of its exceptional emulsifying properties. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are the main egg yolk constituent. LDL and particularly apoLDL are thought to control largely emulsifying properties of egg yolk-based products. Nevertheless, few studies have concerned the interfacial behaviour of these lipoproteins at the oil–water interface and nothing has been published about the air–water interface. Controversies still remain about LDL adsorption mechanism at the oil–water interface even if a widely spread theory suggests their breaking at the interface, allowing then their constituents to spread. The Langmuir film balance and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used in this study in the aim to characterise LDL surface behaviour in dynamic conditions at the air–water interface. The understanding of LDL adsorption mechanism and surface organisation at the air–water interface should provide useful information about LDL behaviour at the oil–water interface. LDL and lipids extracted from LDL—neutral lipids, phospholipids and total lipids (mixture of the two previous species)—were spread at the air–water interface to clarify the role of each constituent in the lipoprotein film. Results clearly show that LDL are disrupted at the interface to release notably neutral lipids from the lipoprotein core, enabling then their spreading. Each lipid class has been identified on the LDL film isotherm and seems to behave independently and individually at the interface within the lipoprotein film.     

Single polymer molecules adsorbed to mica and the oppositely charged polymer/surfactant complexes formed at the air–water interface visualized by atomic force microscopy

In the present study, the structure and morphology of single sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) molecules adsorbed to mica surface from the natural aqueous solution is investigated using atomic force microscopy technique. Results show that single PSS molecules are observed which show a morphology of wormlike coils. Meanwhile, single sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS)/Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) complexes deposited on mica from the air–water interface are also observed. However, the PSS/CTA⁺ complexes show different conformations by appearing in the morphology of circular patches. Experimental data are in fair agreement with the theoretical analysis.     

Structural and spectroscopic investigations of europium(III) entrapped by the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) ligand in K12H8[Eu4(EDTMP)4] · 45H2O crystal

The X-ray crystal structure of an anionic octacoordinate Eu³⁺ complex of the formula K₁₂H₈[Eu₄(EDTMP)₄] · 45H₂O, where EDTMP is the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) anion, hereinafter referred to as I, has been determined. The crystal consists of cyclic tetrameric complex anions, in which the surrounding of each Eu³⁺ ion is composed of two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms from phosphonate groups. One of the phosphonate groups in the ligand molecule is tridentate (O:O′,O″), thus giving rise to the formation of the tetramers. The compound was characterized by UV–Vis electronic spectroscopy. At room and liquid nitrogen temperatures the complex shows luminescence from both ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₁ states, the latter one, which is very rare in Eu³⁺ compounds with organic ligands, is probably brought about by the saturation of the coordination sphere with the phosphonate groups.