Search

The presented studies were aimed at determining the interactions in model membranes (Langmuir monolayers) created of phospholipids (PL) isolated from Legionella gormanii bacteria cultured with (PL + choline) or without (PL − choline) choline and to describe the impact of an antimicrobial peptide, human cathelicidin LL-37, on PL's monolayer behavior. The addition of choline to the growth medium influenced the mutual proportions of phospholipids extracted from L. gormanii. Four classes of phospholipids—phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL), and their mixtures—were used to register compression isotherms with or without the LL-37 peptide in the subphase. Based on them the excess area ( A e ), excess ( Δ G e ), and total ( Δ G m ) Gibbs energy of mixing were determined. The thermodynamic analyses revealed that the PL − choline monolayer showed greater repulsive forces between molecules in comparison to the ideal system, while the PL + choline monolayer was characterized by greater attraction. The LL-37 peptide affected the strength of interactions between phospholipids' molecules and reduced the monolayers stability. Accordingly, the changes in interactions in the model membranes allowed us to determine the difference in their susceptibility to the LL-37 peptide depending on the choline supplementation of bacterial culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wettability measurements were performed for aqueous dispersions of native and modified corn, potato, and pea starch granules deposited on glass plates by the thin layer method using test liquids of a different chemical nature (polar water and formamide or non-polar diiodomethane). High values of the determination coefficient R2 confirm that the linear regression model describes the relationship between the wetting time and the square of the penetration distance very well, indicating the linear nature of the Washburn relationship. A change in free energy (enthalpy) during the movement of the liquid in the porous layer was determined for all starches before and after modification in contact with test liquids. Wetting times for polar liquids increased significantly (from 3 to 4 fold), especially for corn starch. The lower the value of the adhesive tension, the easier the wetting process takes place, and consequently, the adsorption process is facilitated. Adhesive tension for polar substances applies to the adsorption of hydrophilic substances, while in the case of apolar substances, adhesive tension applies to the adsorption of hydrophobic substances. For the adsorption of gallic acid on starch, the relationships obtained for polar substances are crucial. The adsorption of gallic acid by forming hydrogen bonds or, more generally, donor–acceptor (acid–base) bonds is definitely higher for corn starch than other starches. Therefore, this starch has the most significant potential for use as a carrier of gallic acid or, more broadly, compounds from the polyphenol group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatology and cosmetology currently prioritize healthy, youthful-looking skin. As a result, research is being conducted worldwide to uncover natural substances and carriers that allow for controlled release, which could aid in the battle against a variety of skin illnesses and slow the aging process. This study examined the biological and physicochemical features of novel hydrogels containing cannabidiol (CBD) and α-terpineol (TER). The hydrogels were obtained from ε-caprolactone (CL) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymers, diethylene glycol (DEG), poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF), 1,6-diisocyanatohexane (HDI), and chitosan (CHT) components, whereas the biodegradable oligomers were synthesized using the enzyme ring-opening polymerization (e-ROP) method. The in vitro release rate of the active compounds from the hydrogels was characterized by mainly first-order kinetics, without a "burst release". The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-aging qualities of the designed drug delivery systems (DDSs) were evaluated. The findings indicate that the hydrogel carriers that were developed have the ability to scavenge free radicals and impact the activity of antioxidant enzymes while avoiding any negative effects on keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Furthermore, they have anti-inflammatory qualities by impeding protein denaturation as well as the activity of proteinase and lipoxygenase. Additionally, their ability to reduce the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria and inhibit the activity of collagenase and elastase has been demonstrated. Thus, the developed hydrogel carriers may be effective systems for the controlled delivery of CBD, which may become a valuable tool for cosmetologists and dermatologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous starch can be applied as an adsorbent and encapsulant for bioactive substances in the food and pharmaceutical industries. By using appropriate modification methods (chemical, physical, enzymatic, or mixed), it is possible to create pores on the surface of the starch granules without disturbing their integrity. This paper aimed to analyze the possibility of obtaining a porous structure for native corn, potato, and pea starches using a combination of ultrasound, enzymatic digestion, and freeze-drying methods. The starch suspensions (30%, w/w) were treated with ultrasound (20 kHz, 30 min, 20 °C), then dried and hydrolyzed with amyloglucosidase (1000 U/g starch, 50 °C, 24 h, 2% starch suspension). After enzyme digestion, the granules were freeze-dried for 72 h. The structure of the native and modified starches were examined using VIS spectroscopy, SEM, ATR-FTIR, and LTNA (low-temperature nitrogen adsorption). Based on the electrophoretic mobility measurements of the starch granules using a laser Doppler velocimeter, zeta potentials were calculated to determine the surface charge level. Additionally, the selected properties such as the water and oil holding capacities, least gelling concentration (LGC), and paste clarity were determined. The results showed that the corn starch was the most susceptible to the combined modification methods and was therefore best suited for the production of porous starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wetting properties of chitosan (Ch) and single 1,2-dipalmitoylsn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), cholesterol (Chol) and binary DPPC-Chol layers deposited onto polyethylene terephthalate activated by low-temperature air plasma (PETair) were examined. PET is widely used in tissue engineering, but it slow hydrophilicity limits its integration with the surrounding tissues. Ch is a biocompatible polysaccharide, distinguished by its antimicrobial properties, widely distributed in medicine. DPPC and Chol are the major building components of cell membrane, so they can perfectly mimic membrane behaviour during contact with the Ch layer. Monolayers of lipids were deposited onto PETair with or without the Ch layer using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The total surface free energy (SFE) and its components changes were calculated from theoretical approaches. Wettability strongly depended on the monolayer composition as well as the Ch layer. The Ch film decreased the contact angle and increased SFE of the PET surface with the lipid monolayers due to specific organisation of molecules within the chitosan scaffold. The most promising combination of surface modification for tissue engineering applications seems to be the PETair/Ch/DPPC-Chol system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of preparations, whose destination action takes place in close proximity to living cells, increases the necessity to carry out studies concerning the determination of the biomaterial surface effect on the cellular response. In achieving this goal, physicochemical characteristic of the surface can be helpful. This can be established based on topography, chemical composition, wettability, and surface energy analysis. In addition, determining the changes of these properties which can occur as a result of surface modification will allow prediction of cell behaviour when contacting with biomaterial. In the study, the Langmuir-Blodgett technique was used. It enabled the transfer of the Langmuir monolayer formed from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) to a solid support. The DPPC film imitated a natural biological membrane capable of interacting with the components of the liquid subphase: chitosan (Ch), hyaluronic acid (HA) and/or titanium dioxide (TiO2). Depending on the type and strength of interactions of phospholipid molecules with the components of the subphase, the films obtained on the solid support were characterized by specific surface properties. Their characteristics based mainly on values of the work of adhesion in connection with films topography, allowed for statement that it is possible to form semi-interpenetrating Ch network in which HA is entrapped, contributing to the enhanced adhesion of the DPPC film, additionally intensified by TiO2 inclusion. This type of research permit for better understanding of the interactions at the interface, cell membrane-Ch/HA/TiO2 and can be important in the creation of a new generation of skin or tissue substitutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents changes in wettability of the unmodified and modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces. A low temperature air plasma was used to activate the polymer surface and to change its hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties. Then, using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, the Langmuir monolayers of l,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and cyclosporine A (CsA) with different molar fractions, i.e. χ=0.25, 0.50, 0.75, were deposited onto the activated PET surface. Besides, a series of DPPC and CsA monolayers was also transferred onto the chitosan layer, previously produced on the plasma treated PET by the dip- coating method. The wetting properties of such modified PET surfaces were then investigated by the contact angle measurements using three test liquids with well-known surface tension components. The obtained results show that wettability depends on the composition of the deposited DPPC/CsA layer with or without chitosan. Presence of chitosan makes the DPPC/CsA film surface more polar due to specific organization of molecules that expose their polar heads outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, cold plasma-activated and chitosan-coated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was covered with thin films of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, cholesterol, cyclosporine A, and their mixtures using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The thermodynamic function, i.e., surface free energy, of those systems was determined based on the contact angle hysteresis (CAH) approach. This parameter seems to be essential in determination of cell adhesion to polymeric materials and molecular interactions with living tissues. The obtained results show that the wettability and surface free energy of PEEK can be changed depending on the composition of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Langmuir-Blodgett technique was used to transfer the monolayers of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) from the subphase containing chitosan (Ch) and/or titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) and/or hyaluronic acid (HA) on glass plates after a lowtemperature air plasma treatment. The surface free energy and its components were determined on the basis of advancing and receding contact angle measurements of water (W), formamide (F), and diiodomethane (DM). To estimate the total surface free energy (𝛾s tot), the contact angle hysteresis (CAH) model was used, and the obtained data were compared with the results calculated from the Lifshitz-van der Waals/acid.base (LWAB) approach. It was found that the subphase components modify the surface of the phospholipid monolayer by changing the type and magnitude of interactions. They were reflected as significant differences in the obtained values of total surface free energy and its components. These findings can help in the development of composite materials, thereby expanding the spectrum of applications for chitosan, TiO2, and HA, as well as understanding the interactions between biomaterial and cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wettability properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) activated and non‐activated by nitrogen plasma have been investigated. Moreover, the PEEK plates were covered with antibacterial chitosan and its wettability properties were also investigated. Surface topography was determined using SEM and optical profilometry and surface composition by FT‐IR and XPS. For determination of apparent surface free energy, the hysteresis approach (CAH), acid base (LWAB), and Owens–Wendt (O–W) theory were used. The equilibrium contact angles were calculated from the Tadmor theory and further used for apparent surface energy calculation applying the above‐mentioned approaches. Due to the surface plasma activation both the roughness of the surface and the polar component of apparent surface free energy increased. It is shown that nitrogen plasma activation of PEEK surface increases the adhesion of chitosan to the surface due to the combination effect of: (i) the increase in surface roughness, (ii) introducing the polar groups onto the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]