Langmuir monolayer and Langmuir–Blodgett films of amphiphilic triblock copolymers with water-soluble middle block

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film morphology of amphiphilic triblock copolymers are studied using surface pressure-area measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The triblock copolymers are composed of long water-soluble poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains as middle block with very short poly(perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate) (PFMA) end blocks. The surface pressure-area isotherms show phase transitions in the brush regime. This phase transition is due to a rearrangement of PFMA block at the air–water interface. It becomes more significant with increasing PFMA content in the copolymer. LB films transferred at low surface pressures from the air–water interface to hydrophilic silicon substrates show surface micelles in the size range of 50–100 nm. A typical crystalline morphology of the corresponding PEO homopolymer is observed in LB films of copolymers with very short PFMA blocks, transferred in the brush region at high surface pressure. This crystallization is hindered with increasing PFMA content in the copolymer.     

Effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of ionic liquid-type Gemini surfactant

The effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of IL-type gemini surfactant ([C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂), have been investigated by surface tension method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as a function of BSA concentrations at various temperatures was investigated. The CMC of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ increases with increasing the concentration of BSA as well as the temperature of the system. The interfacial parameters viz; maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), the minimum area per molecule (A_min), and surface pressure at CMC (Π_cmc) were calculated. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization were evaluated by using surface tension data. The results indicated that the binding of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ to BSA is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The process is entropy driven and hydrophobic interactions are the major driving forces.     

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films of 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles

New 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles (ATs) with different n-alkyl chain lengths from C2 to C18 were synthesized. ATs with long n-alkyl chains (C12 and larger) are non-charged amphiphilic molecules with a polar triazole head group. The Langmuir isotherms of ATs at the air–water interface with 12 (DoT-C12), 14 (MyT-C14), 16 (PaT-C16) and 18 (StT-C18) carbon atoms in their n-alkyl chains were studied using surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-mmA) measurements. Characteristic for the Langmuir isotherms of PaT-C16 and StT-C-18 was the first sharp increase of the surface pressure at a mmA value of 20 Å² marking a transition of the ATs from the gaseous state with n-alkyl chains already oriented perpendicular to the water surface to a condensed state. The collapse of the monolayers occurred between 20 and 36 mN m⁻¹ with a typical ‘spike’ in the isotherms of MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18 which can be assigned to the buckling and subsequent folding of the monolayer. After the collapse point a pseudo-plateau region of slightly increasing surface pressure appeared for all ATs from C12 to C18 indicating a trilayer formation by the roll-over mechanism for MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18. Upon further compression the final collapse occurred at π values between 59 and 67 mN m⁻¹. From reversibility studies it was found that the Langmuir isotherms of the ATs were irreversible. The morphology of Langmuir–Blodgett films of ATs transferred onto silicon wafers was studied by atomic force microscopy.     

Binding of naproxen to bovine serum albumin and tryptophan-modified bovine serum albumin

Two classes of binding sites, a single high-affinity site with an association constant of 4·8×10⁶ M⁻¹ and two low-affinity sites with association constant of about 0·05×10⁶ M⁻¹ have been observed in the interaction of Naproxen with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Chemical modification of two tryptophan residues in BSA with 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide has led to a reduction in the association constant of the high-affinity site by 89% and its number of binding sites by 66% suggesting the involvement of tryptophan residues in the high-affinity site. In contrast, the two low-affinity sites were not affected by the modification. Binding of Naproxen to the low-affinity sites of BSA induces microdisorganisation of the albumin structure leading to conformational changes as evident from fluorescence measurements with 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulphonic acid as the probe.     

Patterns of the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on carboxymethyl dextran and carboxymethyl cellulose films

Patterns of the adsorption of bovine serum albumin on carboxymethyl dextran and carboxymethyl cellulose films are studied by means of microcontact printing, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance. It is shown that both the charge of polysaccharide macromolecules and the technique for deposition of their films onto the surface (via adsorption from a solution or covalent cross-linking) are factors that determine the degree of nonspecific adsorption of the protein on such films.     

Langmuir — Blodgett deposition of lipid films on hydrogel as a basis for biosensor development

Lipid membranes composed of phosphatidyl choline and cholesterol were interfaced to polyacrylamine hydrogen by Langmuir—Blodgett thin-film deposition. The extent of lipid adsorption to the gel surface was critically dependent on the hydration of the polymer as determined by contact angle measurements. Some electrochemical transducers incorporating the deposited membrane/gel structure responded positively to phloretin and valinomycin. Limitations to the construction of this device are discussed.     

Changes in the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of long-chain diacetylene derivatives through photopolymerization in Langmuir–Blodgett films

Photopolymerization of cadmium 10,12-pentacosadiynoate (CdDA) in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films, with the molecular packing well arranged by moderate preannealing, was investigated with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Greenish films of polydiacetylene with an absorption wavelength of 705 nm were obtained through the photopolymerization of preannealed monomer LB films, and this resulted in an extended π-conjugate system based on the well-ordered monomer in a two-dimensional arrangement. The electronic structures of the polydiacetylenes were found to be correlated to the variation of the molecular arrangements in the films from the changes in the NEXAFS spectra through photopolymerization in the LB films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2329–2336, 2004     

Thyroxine binding properties of glycosylated bovine serum albumin.

Thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4) binding properties of glycosylated bovine serum albumin (G-BSA), and intact BSA were studied by the fluorescence method. The apparent binding constants for intact BSA were 0.8 (0.16) x 10(6) M-1 at pH 5.0 and 2.18 (0.06) x 10(6) M-1 at pH 9.5 at 25 degrees C. T4 binding for G-BSA was independent of pH and the apparent binding constant was 1.4 x 10(6) M-1. Thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated from the Van't Hoff plots of the apparent binding constants at pH 7.4 and 8.5. At both pH's, the free energy, enthalpy and entropy changes were almost the same for both G-BSA and BSA.     

Effect of the conditions of transfer on the structure and optical properties of Langmuir graphene oxide films during deposition on a substrate

The effect the solvent and transfer pressure of graphene oxide (SLGO) Langmuir–Blodgett films on the physicochemical properties of monolayers, and on their structural and optical properties, is studied. Examination of the physicochemical properties of SLGO monolayers on subphase surfaces that are formed from SLGO dispersions in different organic solvents reveals that monolayer behavior is virtually independent of the solvent. Electron microscope and optical studies show that the monolayers formed from SLGO dispersions in DMF and acetone have the highest transfer coefficients. It is concluded that the structural heterogeneity of the surfaces of graphene oxide films results from simultaneous effect of electrostatic interactions between graphene oxide particles and Van der Waals interactions with the solvation shell of the particles. Studies focusing on the effect the pressure of transferring a graphene oxide monolayer onto the surface of a solid substrate has on structural features of LB films show that films produced at low surface pressures have more homogeneous structures.     

Effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin on liposomal membrane characteristics

The effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the membrane characteristics of liposomes at pH 7.4 was examined in terms of zeta potential, micropolarity, microfluidity and permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes, where negatively charged L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)/L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), negatively charged dicetylphosphate (DCP)/DPPC and positively charged stearylamine (SA)/DPPC mixed liposomes were used. BSA with negative charges adsorbed on negatively charged DPPG/DPPC mixed liposomes but did not adsorb on negatively charged DCP/DPPC and positively charged SA/DPPC mixed liposomes. Furthermore, the adsorption amount of BSA on the mixed DPPG/DPPC liposomes increased with increasing the mole fraction of DPPG in spite of a possible electrostatic repulsion between BSA and DPPG. Thus, the adsorption of BSA on liposomes was likely to be related to the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and liposomes. The microfluidity of liposomal bilayer membranes near the bilayer center decreased by the adsorption of BSA, while the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increased by the adsorption of BSA on liposomes. These results are considered to be due to that the adsorption of BSA brings about a phase separation in liposomes and that a temporary gap is consequently formed in the liposomal bilayer membranes, thereby the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increases by the adsorption of BSA.     

三价铁对灯盏花素与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的影响

运用荧光光谱、紫外吸收光谱探讨了Fe3+对灯盏花素(BR)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)相互作用的影响;从Fe3+与BSA的静电作用、配位结合以及Fe3+与BR的配位作用等方面分析了影响BR与BSA相互作用的因素.结果表明,Fe3+不改变BSA与BR的作用机制,但使得二者结合的猝灭常数、结合常数及结合位点数减小.     

An infrared study on Langmuir–Blodgett films of 14,15-bis(hydroxyimino)-13-thiaoctacosane

The Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of 14,15-bis(hydroxyimino)-13-thiaoctacosane (TOC) on aluminium plated substrates were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), grazing angle (GAIR) and horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HATR) techniques. The LB films of TOC can be transferred onto the solid substrate successfully. The molecular structure of LB films was analysis by comparing the GAIR and HTAR spectra. The intense bands at 2848 and 2918 cm⁻¹ are assigned to symmetric ν_s(CH₂) and asymmetric ν_a(CH₂) stretching vibrations of methylene groups. These peaks suggest that the alkyl chains in TOC are nearly in all-trans conformational state. The presence in the infrared spectra of several bands due to the methylene wagging and twisting modes and of the splitting of the bands due to the methylene scissoring mode at 1467 and 1459 cm⁻¹ and the CH₂ rocking mode at 720 and 731 cm⁻¹ also indicates that in films of TOC alkyl chains are in the all-trans conformation and packed in either an orthorhombic or a monoclinic structure with an orthorhombic subcell containing two mutually orthogonal molecules. Another conclusion presented in this paper that the alkyl chain tilt, which is the angle between the axis, which bisects the C–C bonds and the surface normal, was quite large by comparing the GAIR and HATR spectra.     

Structural-morphological and biological properties of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by bovine serum albumin

Nanostructures formed during the reduction of ionic selenium in the selenite-ascorbate redox system in an aqueous solution of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied using static and dynamic light scattering and flow birefringence. It was established that this process results in the formation of stable aggregates of selenium nanoparticles that adsorb BSA molecules. It was found that highly-ordered superhigh-molecular-weight spherical nanostructures with high density and unique morphology are formed. Experiments with a cell culture of promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 showed that BSA adsorbed on selenium nanoparticles can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and deactivate free radicals with an efficiency comparable with that of sodium selenite.     

Probing chiral amino acids at sub-picomolar level based on bovine serum albumin enantioselective films coupled with silver-enhanced gold nanoparticles

A novel electrochemical sensor with capability of probing chiral amino acids with gold nanoparticle (n-Au) labels using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a chiral selector and subsequent signal amplification step by silver enhancement is introduced. The assay relies on the stereoselectivity of BSA embedded in ultrathin γ-alumina sol–gel film coated on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The recognition to the n-Au-labeled l- or d-amino acids for BSA-GCE could be monitored by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), while the DPV signal was greatly amplified by the anchored silver atoms on the n-Au, leading to a new way of quantitatively analysis of chiral amino acids electrochemically at sub-picomolar level. With l-tryptophan as the probe solute, the linear concentration range was from 1.33 × 10⁻¹² to 1 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ and detection limit was 5 × 10⁻¹³ mol L⁻¹. For tryptophan enantiomers, the enantioselectivity coefficient 2.3 was obtained.     

金丝桃苷与牛血清白蛋白相互作用的研究

采用荧光共振能量转移法研究了金丝桃苷与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用.金丝桃苷对牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的荧光猝灭类型是静态猝灭,25℃时的结合位点数为0.5451.并依据F(o)ster非辐射能量转移理论,研究了给体(牛血清白蛋白)--受体(金丝桃苷)间的结合距离R.和能量转移效率E分别为2.04nm和0.66.同时,采用同步...     

Effect of metal cations on polydiacetylene Langmuir films

Polydiacetylene (PDA) Langmuir films (LFs) are a unique class of materials that couple a highly aligned conjugated backbone with tailorable pendant side groups and terminal functionalities. The films exhibit chromatic transitions from monomer to blue polymer and finally to a red phase that can be activated optically, thermally, chemically, and mechanically. The properties of PDA LFs are strongly affected by the presence of metal cations in the aqueous subphase of the film due to their interaction with the carboxylic head groups of the polymer. In the present study the influence of divalent cadmium, barium, copper, and lead cations on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of PDA LFs was investigated by means of surface pressure-molecular area (π-A) isotherms, atomic force microscopy, optical absorbance, and Raman spectroscopy. The threshold concentrations for the influence of metal cations on the film structure, stability, and phase transformation were determined by π-A analyses. It was found that each of the investigated cations has a unique influence on the properties of PDA LFs. Cadmium cations induce moderate phase transition kinetics with reduced domain size and fragmented morphology. Barium cations contribute to stabilization of the PDA blue phase and enhanced linear strand morphology. On the other hand, copper cations enhance rapid formation of the PDA red phase and cause fragmented morphology of the film, while the presence of lead cations results in severe perturbation of the film with only a small area of the film able to be effectively polymerized. The influence of the metal cations is correlated with the solubility product (K(sp)), association strength, and ionic-covalent bond nature between the metal cations and the PDA carboxylic head groups.     

Supramolecular self-assembly study of a flexible perylenetetracarboxylic diimide dimer in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films

A novel perylenetetracarboxylic diimide molecule (2PDI-TAZ), which contains two perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) attached to a melamine headgroup, was designed and synthesized. Supramolecular self-assemblies were studied in Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films. Surface pressure–area isotherm measurements and the spectroscopic studies indicate that the 2PDI-TAZ molecules adopted a face-to-face configuration and edge-on orientation in Langmuir or the multilayer LB films. The presence of the barbituric acid in subphase change the hydrophilicity of 2PDI-TAZ due to the hydrogen bonding between melamine and barbituric acid, which has been revealed by the π–A isotherms and the FT-IR spectra. Transmission electron microscopy images of the LB films deposited from the barbituric acid solution revealed uniform nanowire morphology while the X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the molecules in the solid film packed with high order. The strong excimer emission of 2PDI-TAZ in LB films suggests enforced face-to-face configuration for the PDI unites in LB films in relative to that in solution.     

Black foam films stabilized with the mixtures of bovine serum albumin and nonionic surfactant Tween 80

Stable black films are prepared for the first time from aqueous solutions of Tween 80-bovine serum albumin mixtures. Conditions for their formation and stabilization factors are studied in a Scheludko-Exerowa cell by microinterferometry. It is found that such films are formed when saturated surface layers consist of surfactant-protein 1: 1 complexes, Tween 80 molecules, or their mixtures. A possible mechanism for the thinning of liquid layers and the stabilization of black films is discussed.