Structural-rheological characteristics of Chaplin E peptide at the air/water interface; a comparison with β-lactoglobulin and β-casein.

The Chaplin E peptide is a surface-active agent that can adsorb to the air/water interface and form interfacial films that display distinct interfacial properties as a function of pH. The ~2 nm thick homogeneous Chaplin E film formed under acidic conditions contains ordered structures that give a high dilatational elasticity. In contrast, the heterogeneous film formed under basic conditions contained fibrils resulting in a rough ~17 nm thick film with predominantly viscoelastic properties, probably due to the reduced intermolecular interactions.

pH-Induced interfacial properties of Chaplin E from Streptomyces coelicolor.

Chaplin E, or Chp E, is a surface active peptide secreted by Streptomyces coelicolor that adopts different structures depending on solution pH but the effect of these structures on the interfacial properties of Chp E is not known. In experiments paired with simulations, Chp E was found to display pH-dependent interfacial assembly and surface activity. At pH 3.

Structure-Dependent Interfacial Properties of Chaplin F from Streptomyces coelicolor.

Chaplin F (Chp F) is a secreted surface-active peptide involved in the aerial growth of . While Chp E demonstrates a pH-responsive surface activity, the relationship between Chp F structure, function and the effect of solution pH is unknown. Chp F peptides were found to self-assemble into amyloid fibrils at acidic pH (3.

Duolayers at the Air/Water Interface: Improved Lifetime through Ionic Interactions.

Ionic interactions to stabilize Langmuir films at the air/water interface have been used to develop improved duolayer films. Two-component mixtures of octadecanoic (stearic) acid and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (polyDADMAC) with different ratios were prepared and applied to the water surface. Surface pressure isotherm cycles demonstrated a significant improvement in film stability with the inclusion of the polymer.

Dynamic performance of duolayers at the air/water interface. 1. Experimental analysis.

Understanding, and improving, the behavior of thin surface films under exposure to externally applied forces is important for applications such as mimicking biological membranes, water evaporation mitigation, and recovery of oil spills. This paper demonstrates that the incorporation of a water-soluble polymer into the surface film composition, i.e.

Dynamic performance of duolayers at the air/water interface. 2. Mechanistic insights from all-atom simulations.

The novel duolayer system, comprising a monolayer of ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether (C18E1) and the water-soluble polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), has been shown to resist forces such as wind stress to a greater degree than the C18E1 monolayer alone. This paper reports all-atom molecular dynamics simulations comparing the monolayer (C18E1 alone) and duolayer systems under an applied force parallel to the air/water interface. The simulations show that, due to the presence of PVP at the interface, the duolayer film exhibits an increase in chain tilt, ordering, and density, as well as a lower lateral velocity compared to the monolayer.

Molecular mechanism of stabilization of thin films for improved water evaporation protection.

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations and experimental characterization have been used to examine the structure and dynamics of novel evaporation-suppressing films where the addition of a water-soluble polymer to an ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether monolayer leads to improved water evaporation resistance. Simulations and Langmuir trough experiments demonstrate the surface activity of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). Subsequent MD simulations performed on the thin films supported by the PVP sublayer show that, at low surface pressures, the polymer tends to concentrate at the film/water interface.

Molecular interactions behind the synergistic effect in mixed monolayers of 1-octadecanol and ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether.

Mixed monolayers of 1-octadecanol (C18OH) and ethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether (C18E1) were studied to assess their evaporation suppressing performance. An unexpected increase in performance and stability was found around the 0.5:0.

Monolayer structure and evaporation resistance: a molecular dynamics study of octadecanol on water.

This study examines intermolecular interactions of a monolayer of octadecanol (CH(3)(CH(2))(17)OH) on water as a function of surface density and temperature, using classical molecular dynamics simulations. We observe increased interaction between the alkyl chains (van der Waals) and hydroxyl groups (H-bonding) with increased surface density, which leads to increased order and packing within the monolayer. We also identified clear trends in the intermolecular interactions, ordering and packing of the monolayer molecules as a function of temperature.

Conjugation of bioactive groups to poly(lactic acid) and poly[(lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid)] films.

A novel PLA-based polymer containing reactive pendent ketone or hydroxyl groups was synthesized by the copolymerization of L-lactide with epsilon-caprolactone-based monomers. The polymer was activated with NPC, resulting in an amine-reactive polymer which was then cast into thin polymeric films, either alone or as part of a blend with PLGA, before immersion into a solution of the cell adhesion peptide GRGDS in PBS buffer allowed for conjugation of GRGDS to the film surfaces. Subsequent 3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion studies demonstrated an increase in cellular adhesion and spreading over films cast from unmodified PLGA.

Addition of biological functionality to poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films.

Biodegradable polyesters such as poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) have a number of biomedical applications; however, their usage is often limited by a lack of biological functionality. In this paper, a PCL-based polymer containing pendent groups activated by 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate (NPC) and reactive toward primary amines has been cast into thin films. The reactivity of the films toward poly(l-lysine) and the cell adhesion peptide, GRGDS, was assessed, and their cell adhesive capabilities were characterized.