This article presents a protocol for the production of protein-based nanoparticles that changes the hydrophobic surface to hydrophilic. The produced nanoparticle is an assembly of gliadin-cyanoacrylate diblock copolymers. Spray coating with the produced nanoparticle changes the surface of target material to a hydrophilic surface.
I denna artikel presenteras ett protokoll för framställning av proteinbaserade nanopartiklar som förändrar den hydrofoba ytan till hydrofil genom en enkel spraybeläggning. Dessa nanopartiklar framställs genom polymerisationsreaktionen av alkyl cyanoakrylat på ytan av spannmål protein (gliadin) molekyler. Alkyl cyanoakrylat är en monomer som omedelbart polymeriserar vid RT när den anbringas på ytan av material. Dess polymerisationsreaktion initieras av spårmängder av svagt basiska eller nukleofila species på ytan, inklusive fukt. En gång polymeriserad, de polymeriserade alkylcyanoakrylater visar stark affinitet med de objekt material på grund nitrilgrupper är i ryggraden i poly (alkyl-cyanoakrylat). Proteiner arbetar också som initiativtagare för denna polymerisation eftersom de innehåller amingrupper som kan initiera polymerisation av cyanoakrylat. Om aggregerade protein används som en initiator, är proteinaggregat omgiven av den hydrofobapoly (alkyl-cyanoakrylat) kedjorna efter polymerisationsreaktionen av alkyl cyanoakrylat. Genom att styra den experimentella tillstånd, är partiklar i nanometerområdet produceras. De framställda nanopartiklar lätt adsorberas på ytan av de flesta material, inklusive glas, metall, plast, trä, läder och textilier. När ytan av ett material sprayas med det producerade nanopartikelsuspension och sköljdes med vatten, den micellära strukturen hos nanopartikel ändrar sin konformation, och de hydrofila proteinerna utsätts för luft. Som ett resultat, ändrar nanopartikel-belagda ytan till hydrofila.
The goal of this article is to show the protocol for the preparation of nanoparticle suspension that modifies the wetting property of materials by a simple spray. The presented nanoparticle suspension is made from alkyl cyanoacrylate1 and a cereal protein, gliadin2,3. During the manufacturing process, protein aggregates are formed in aqueous ethanol4. Subsequent reaction with monomer (alkyl cyanoacrylate) produces the nanoparticle that is comprised of a protein core surrounded by linear polymer chains [poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate)]5.
Poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate)s are biodegradable and have been used for the production of nanoparticles via emulsion polymerization6. This reaction is spontaneously initiated by the hydroxyl groups dissociated from water or by other nucleophilic groups in the reaction medium7. In the case of the reaction presented in this article, the amine groups on the surface of protein aggregates initiate the polymerization reaction of alkyl cyanoacrylate monomers5,8. As a result of this reaction, nanoparticles are formed in the reaction medium. The core of the nanoparticle is protein aggregates and the outer layer is poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) (PACA) chains. The prepared nanoparticle has a strong affinity on most materials (more precisely, any material which PACA can adsorb to) and adheres onto their surface to form a thin coating on a nanometer scale. A simple spray coating instantly turns the surface of the materials hydrophilic.
Gliadin is one of the main fractions of gluten, which is in the endosperms of wheat. Gliadins are mainly monomeric proteins with molecular weights around 28,000 – 55,000. Non-covalent bonds such as hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds and hydrophobic bonds are responsible for the aggregation of gliadins2. Although gliadin is chosen as a reactant in this article, many other proteins can also be used for the same purpose. However, the reaction condition needs to be modified accordingly because the condition for inducing aggregation is dependent on the type of protein to be employed8. Compared with other proteins, gliadin is more readily available, purification is simple, and production cost is low. Although ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) is chosen as a monomer for the presented reaction, other alkyl cyanoacrylates can also be used for the same reaction. The reason for choosing ECA is that it is readily available at low cost.
There are several critical steps in the production of the nanoparticle suspension. If the purified gliadin contains impurities, the reaction with ECA will produce side products. Although these unwanted products can be removed from the reaction medium during the centrifugation stage, it lowers the yield of the major product. If the gliadin solution prepared during experimental step 2.3) does not show clear separation between supernatant and precipitate after two days, the solution needs to stand for longer time. Using fre…
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Tack vare Mr Jason Adkins för teknisk experthjälp.
Ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) monomer | K&R International (Laguna Niguel, CA) | I-1605 | Any pure ECA can be used. |
Gliadin | MGP Ingredients, Inc (Atchison, KS) | Gift from the company | Gliadin can be purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (cat #: G3375-25G). Instead of gliadin, any commercial gluten can be used. |
HCl | Any | Any reagent grade chemical can be used. | |
Acetone | Any | Any reagent grade chemical can be used. | |
Methanol | Any | Any reagent grade chemical can be used. | |
Ethanol (100%) | Any | Any reagent grade chemical can be used. | |
Filter paper | Any | Any grade filter paper larger than 10 cm can be used. | |
Cell culture square dish | Any | Any dish larger than 20 cm x 20 cm can be used. | |
Coffee grinder | Any | Any coffee grinder can be used. | |
Rotary evaporator | Any | Any rotary evaporator can be used. | |
Freeze Dryer | Any | Any freeze dryer that can reach – 70°C can be used. | |
Centrifuge | Any | Any centrifuge that can apply 1000 x g can be used. | |
Magnetic stirrer | Any | Any magnetic stirrer that can turn spin bar to 1000 RPM can be used. | |
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) | Brookhaven Instruments Corporation | NanoBrook Omni Zeta Potential Analyzer | DLS from any company can be used. |
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) | Carl Zeiss Inc. | Any SEM can be used. | |
Dynamic Contact Angle (DCA) | Thermo Cahn Instruments | Any DCA can be used. |