Length scale hierarchy in sol, gel, and coacervate phases of gelatin

Self-assembled gelatin-ι-carrageenan encapsulation structures for intestinal-targeted release applications

In this work, natural biopolymeric encapsulation structures were developed through the self-assembly of gelatin and ι-carrageenan in aqueous solutions. The interactions of this binary system and of a ternary system containing a polyphenol-rich extract were deeply explored for the development of intestinal delivery systems. The processing of the structures (extrusion vs. freeze-drying) greatly influenced release properties, explained by the specific interactions between gelatin and polyphenols, thus allowing for tuning the processing conditions depending on the desired target application. Release was further controlled by incorporating a divalent salt, giving raise to extract-loaded ι-carrageenan/gelatin capsules with adequate release profiles for intestinal targeted delivery. These results demonstrate the potential of exploiting biopolymer interactions for designing bioactive delivery systems using environmentally friendly processes which do not involve the use of toxic or harsh solvents or cross-linkers.

Influence of high energy electron irradiation on the network structure of gelatin hydrogels as investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

Small-angle X-ray scattering revealed ranging structural differences in physically entangled and irradiation-crosslinked gelatin hydrogels.

Linear viscoelasticity of complex coacervates

Rheology is a powerful method for material characterization that can provide detailed information about the self-assembly, structure, and intermolecular interactions present in a material. Here, we review the use of linear viscoelastic measurements for the rheological characterization of complex coacervate-based materials. Complex coacervation is an electrostatically and entropically-driven associative liquid-liquid phase separation phenomenon that can result in the formation of bulk liquid phases, or the self-assembly of hierarchical, microphase separated materials. We discuss the need to link thermodynamic studies of coacervation phase behavior with characterization of material dynamics, and provide parallel examples of how parameters such as charge stoichiometry, ionic strength, and polymer chain length impact self-assembly and material dynamics. We conclude by highlighting key areas of need in the field, and specifically call for the development of a mechanistic understanding of how molecular-level interactions in complex coacervate-based materials affect both self-assembly and material dynamics.

Hierarchical Internal Structures in Gelatin-Bovine Serum Albumin/β-Lactoglobulin Gels and Coacervates

Herein, we report the comparative study of gels and complex coacervates of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and beta-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) with gelatin close to their common pI. Surface patch binding produced a range of new soft matter phases (interpolymer complexes) such as opaque coacervates (charge neutralized complexes) and transparent gels (overcharged complexes). We emphasize on the comparative study of the microstructure of coacervates and gels formed at different mixing ratios using small angle scattering (SANS) data. It was found that phase states were entirely defined by the mixing ratio r = [GB]:[β-Lg or BSA]. Thermo-viscoelastic profiles of aforesaid samples revealed a smaller storage modulus and lower melting temperature for coacervates compared to gels. Thermally activated samples generated additional phases that were also probed by SANS and rheology. Thus, it is established that intermolecular association between globular proteins and a random coil polypeptide can generate various soft matter states that may facilitate harvesting of novel biomaterials.

Hierarchical surface charge dependent phase states of gelatin-bovine serum albumin dispersions close to their common pI

We report interaction between bovine serum albumin ([BSA] = 1% (w/v)) and gelatin B ([GB] = 0.25-3.5% (w/v)) occurring close to their common isoelectric pH (pI). This interaction generated distinguishable multiple soft matter phases like opaque coacervates (phase I) and transparent gels (phase II), where the former are composed of partially charge neutralized intermolecular complexes (zeta potential, ζ ≤ 0) and the latter of overcharged complexes (ζ ≥ 0) that organized into a network pervading the entire sample volume. These phase states were completely governed by the protein mixing ratio r = [GB]:[BSA]. Coacervates, when heated above 32 °C, produced thermoirreversible turbid gels (phase III), stable in the region 32 ≥ T ≤ 50 °C. When the transparent gels were heated to T ≥ 34 °C, these turned into turbid solutions that did form a turbid fragile gel (phase IV) upon cooling. Mechanical and thermal behaviors of aforesaid coacervates (phase I) and gels (phase II) were examined; coacervates had lower storage modulus and melting temperature compared to gels. Cole-Cole plots attributed considerable heterogeneity to coacervate phase, but gels were relatively homogeneous. Raman spectroscopy data suggested differential microenvironment for these phases. Coacervates were mostly hydrated by partially structured water with degree of hydration dependent on gelatin concentration whereas for gels hydration was invariant of [GB]. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data gave static structure factor profiles, I(q), versus wavevector q, that were remarkably different. For transparent gels, data could be split into two distinct regions: (i) 0.01 < q < 0.1 Å(-1), I(q) = IOZ(0)/(1 + q(2)ζgel(2))(2) (Debye-Bueche function) with ζgel = 9-13 nm, and (ii) 0.1 < q < 0.35 Å(-1), I(q) = IOZ(0)/(1 + q(2)ξgel(2)) (Ornstein-Zernike function) with ξgel = 3.1 ± 0.6 nm. Similarly, for coacervate, the aforesaid two q-regions were described by (i) I(q) = IPL(0)q(-α) with α = 1.7 ± 0.1 and (ii) I(q) = IOZ(0)/(1 + q(2)ξcoac(2)) with ξcoac = 1.6 ± 0.2 nm, a value close to the persistence length of gelatin chain (lp ≈ 2 nm). Phase transition from one equilibrium state to another, i.e., phase I to II, was hierarchical in the charge state of the protein-protein complex. Within the same charge state, transition from phase I to III and from phase II to IV was thermally activated. The aforesaid mechanisms are captured in a unique ζ-T phase diagram.

WITHDRAWN: Interfacial layers of complex-forming ionic surfactants with gelatin

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.cis.2014.05.001. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.

Hybrid processes in enzymatically gelled gelatin: impact on , macroscopic properties and cellular response

Physical, chemical and hybrid tilapia fish gelatin hydrogels were investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (), molecular dynamic simulations and their biological effect in cell cultures studied; results from the different experimental techniques were then correlated and linked to the rheological properties of the gels (F. Bode et al., Biomacromolecules, 2011, 12, 3741-3752). Hydrogels were obtained by cross-linking with the microbial enzyme transglutaminase (mTGase) under two conditions: above and below gelatin physical temperature (ca. 23 °C). Hydrogels cross-linked at 37 °C, from the sol-state, are referred to as 'chemical' gels (C); hydrogels cross-linked at 21 °C, thus with concurrent physical , are referred to as 'physical-co-chemical' gels (PC). The data were appropriately described by a combination of a Lorentzian and a power law model. For physical gels, the correlation length (ξ) obtained from the fits decreased linearly with gelatin concentration, from 42 to 26 Å for 3.5 to 10% w/w gelatin, respectively. Independently of temperature, all physical gels at a given concentration showed a similar correlation length ξ (26 ± 2 Å), with no significant difference with the sol-state (23 ± 2 Å). In both C and PC gels, ξ increased with mTGase concentration over the range studied: 40 to 167 Å for 10 and 40 U mTGase per g gelatin in C gels (after 120 min cross-linking) and 40 to 82 Å for 10 and 40 U mTGase per g gelatin for PC gels. ξ reached a plateau at the highest mTGase concentration studied for both types of gels. In addition, kinetic studies on C gels revealed that ξ increased linearly with time in the first two hours and grew faster with increasing mTGase concentration. ξ values in the PC gels were smaller than in the corresponding C gels. Cell proliferation studies showed that the gels were compatible with cell growth and indicated no statistically relevant dependence on mTGase concentration for C gels. For PC gels, cell proliferation decreased with increases in mTGase concentration, by approximately 80% from 10 to 40 U mTGase per g gelatin. With the exception of the highest mTGase concentration studied, PC gels overall showed a slightly (but statistically significant) higher cell proliferation than the corresponding chemical gels.

Anisotropic domain growth and complex coacervation in nanoclay-polyelectrolyte solutions

In this review, the generalized domain growth in a coacervating solution is discussed. Associative electrostatic interaction between nanoclay (Laponite) and gelatin-A (a polyelectrolyte) is shown to drive complex coacervation at room temperature (25°C). Phase separation kinetics, leading to spontaneous coacervation transition occurring below spinodal temperature (315K) was studied by depolarized dynamic light scattering. Depolarization and axial ratio data clearly revealed that the domains formed of soluble complexes undergo time-dependent anisotropic growth during the initial period of phase separation (t<500s). The equatorial axis of these domains was observed to grow following a power-law behavior: a(t)~t(β) and β=0.25 ± 0.04 independent of quench depth that was not deep. In contrast, the polar axis shrunk with time following: b(t)~t(-δ) and δ=0.15 ± 0.05 independent of quench depth. These domains preferentially grew as oblate ellipsoids during this time. Effect of gravity on domain growth was not observed in our experiments. These results answer the basic issue of binding between discotic colloidal particles and polyelectrolytes in dispersion phase and the resultant phase separation kinetics.

Internal structures of agar-gelatin co-hydrogels by light scattering, small-angle neutron scattering and rheology

Internal structures of agar-gelatin co-hydrogels were investigated as a function of their volumetric mixing ratio, [Formula: see text] , 1.0 and 2.0 using dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and rheology. The degree of non-ergodicity ( X = 0.2 ± 0.02) , which was extracted as a heterodyne contribution from the measured dynamic structure factor data remained less than that of homogeneous solutions where ergodicity is expected (X = 10. The static structure factor, I(q) , results obtained from SANS were interpreted in the Guinier regime (low-q , which implied the existence of ≈ 250 nm long rod-like structures (double-helix bundles), and the power law (intermediate-q regions) yielded I (q) ~ q(−α) with α = 2.3 , 1.8 and 1.6 for r = 0.5 , 1.0 and 2.0. This is indicative of the presence of Gaussian chains at low r , while at r = 2 there was a propensity of rod-shaped structures. The gel strength and transition temperatures measured from frequency sweep and temperature ramp studies were suggestive of the presence of a stronger association between the two biopolymer networks at higher r . The results indicate that the internal structures of agar-gelatin co-hydrogels were highly dependent on the volumetric mixing ratio.

pH-responsive jello: gelatin gels containing fatty acid vesicles

We describe a new way to impart pH-responsive properties to gels of biopolymers such as gelatin. This approach involves the embedding of pH-sensitive nanosized vesicles within the gel. The vesicles employed here are those of sodium oleate (NaOA), a fatty-acid-based amphiphile with a single C18 tail. In aqueous solution, NaOA undergoes a transition from vesicles at a pH approximately 8 to micelles at a pH higher than approximately 10. Here, we combine NaOA and gelatin at pH 8.3 to create a vesicle-loaded gel and then bring the gel in contact with a pH 10 buffer solution. As the buffer diffuses into the gel, the vesicles within the gel get transformed into micelles. Accordingly, a vesicle-micelle front moves through the gel, and this can be visually identified by the difference in turbidity between the two regions. Vesicle disruption can also be done in a spatially selective manner to create micelle-rich domains within a vesicle-loaded gel. A possible application of the above approach is in the area of pH-dependent controlled release. A vesicle-to-micelle transition releases hydrophilic solutes encapsulated within the vesicles into the bulk gel, and in turn these solutes can rapidly diffuse out of the gel into the external bath. Experiments with calcein dye confirm this concept and show that we can indeed use the pH in the bath to tune the release rate of solutes from vesicle-loaded gels.

Structural study of coacervation in protein-polyelectrolyte complexes

Coacervation is a dense liquid-liquid phase separation and herein we report coacervation of protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the presence of polyelectrolyte sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS) under varying solution conditions. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements have been performed on above protein-polyelectrolyte complexes to study the structural evolution of the process that leads to coacervation and the phase separated coacervate as a function of solution pH , protein-polyelectrolyte ratio and ionic strength. SANS study prior to phase separation on the BSA-NaPSS complex shows a fractal structure representing a necklace model of protein macromolecules randomly distributed along the polystyrene sulfonate chain. The fractal dimension of the complex decreases as pH is shifted away from the isoelectric point ( approximately 4.7) of BSA protein, which indicates the decrease in the compactness of the complex structure due to increase in the charge repulsion between the protein macromolecules bound to the polyelectrolyte. Concentration-dependence studies of the polyelectrolyte in the complex suggest coexistence of two populations of polyelectrolytes, first one fully saturated with proteins and another one free from proteins. Coacervation phase has been obtained through the turbidity measurement by varying pH of the aqueous solution containing protein and polyelectrolyte from neutral to acidic regime to get them to where the two components are oppositely charged. The spontaneous formation of coacervates is observed for pH values less than 4. SANS study on coacervates shows two length scales related to complex aggregations (mesh size and overall extent of the complex) hierarchically branched to form a larger network. The mesh size represents the distance between cross-linked points in the primary complex, which decreases with increase in ionic strength and remains the same on varying the protein-polyelectrolyte ratio. On the other hand, the overall extent of the complex shows a similar structure irrespective of varying ionic strength and protein-polyelectrolyte ratio. A large fraction ( approximately 50%) of protein-polyelectrolyte complexes is also found to be free in the supernatant after the coacervation.

Temporal evolution of self-organization of gelatin molecules and clusters on quartz surface

Aqueous gelatin solutions when spread on hydrophilic substrates form self-organized structures where the gelatin molecules and clusters are arranged as self-similar objects giving a mass fractal dimension df=1.67 and 1.72 for solutions made with KCl and NaCl salts as estimated from atomic force microscopic studies. The dehydration driven self-organization of particles changed the df values to 1.78 and 1.81, respectively, after 24 h. This further changed to 1.83 and 1.85 after a time lapse of 10 days. The dynamics of formation of these structures are modeled through spin-exchange kinetics in the nonequilibrium steady state regime in order to understand their complex behavior. Kawasaki spin exchange dynamics has been applied to a diffusion limited aggregation type fractal object, and the growth of the domains was observed by minimizing the free energy. The fractal dimension of such a system changed from 1.70 to 1.82 which inferred the loss of fractal behavior and the generation of a more compact object. The experimentally observed temporal evolution of these complex structures could be adequately described through the results obtained from the computer simulation data.

Surface patch binding induced intermolecular complexation and phase separation in aqueous solutions of similarly charged gelatin-chitosan molecules

The formation of selective surface patch binding induced complex coacervates between polyions, chitosan (cationic polyelectrolyte), and alkali-processed gelatin (polyampholyte), both carrying similar net charge, was investigated for two volumetric mixing ratios: r = [chitosan]/[gelatin] = 1:5 and 1:10. Formation of soluble intermolecular complexes between gelatin and chitosan molecules was observed in a narrow range of pH, though these biopolymers had the same kind of net charge, which was evidenced from electrophoretic measurement. This clearly established the role played by selective surface patch binding driven interactions. The temperature sweep measurements conducted on these coacervate samples through rheology and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies yielded two characteristic melting temperatures located at approximately 68 +/- 3 degrees C and 82 +/- 3 degrees C. In the flow mode, the shear viscosity (eta) of the coacervate samples was found to scale with (power-law model) applied shear rate (gamma*) as eta(gamma*) approximately (gamma*)(-k); this yielded k = 0.76 +/- 0.2 (1 s(-1) < gamma* < 100 s(-1)), indicating non-Newtonian behavior. The static structure factor (I(q)) deduced from small angle neutron scattering (SANS) data in the low q (q is the scattering wavevector) (0.018 A(-1) < q < 0.072 A(-1)) region was fitted to the Debye-Bueche regime, I(q) approximately 1/(1 + zeta(2)q(2))2 that yielded a size of zeta approximately 215 +/- 20 A (for r = 1:10) and zeta approximately 260 +/- 20 A (for r = 1:5) samples, implying change in the size of inhomogeneities present with mixing ratio. In the intermediate q region, called the Ornstein-Zernike regime, I(q) approximately 1/(1 + xi(2)q(2)) gave a correlation length of xi approximately 10.0 +/- 2.0 A independent of the mixing ratio. The results taken together imply the existence of a weakly interconnected and heterogeneous network structure inside the coacervate phase separated by domains of polymer-poor regions.

Structural studies of agar–gelatin complex coacervates by small angle neutron scattering, rheology and differential scanning calorimetry

Agar-gelatin complex coacervates are studied by small angle neutron scattering (SANS), rheology (in both flow and temperature scan modes) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in order to probe the microscopic structure of this dense protein-polysaccharide-rich phase. DSC and isochronal temperature sweep (rheology) experiments yielded a characteristic temperature at approximately 35+/-2 degrees C. Rheology data revealed a second characteristic temperature at approximately 75+/-5 degrees C which was absent in DSC thermograms. In the flow mode, shear viscosity (eta) was found to scale with (Carreau model) applied shear rate (gamma ) as: eta(gamma ) approximately (gamma )(-k) with k=1.2+/-0.2 indicating non-Newtonian and shear-thinning features independent of ionic strength. The static structure factor S(q) deduced from SANS data in the low wave vector (0.018 A(-1)<q<0.072 A(-1)) region was fitted to Debye-Bueche function, S(q) approximately 1/(1+zeta(2)q(2))(2) that yielded a size zeta approximately 220+/-20 A identified with the size of the inhomogeneities present. In the high-q region, called the Ornstein-Zernike regime, S(q) approximately 1/(1+xi(2)q(2)) gave correlation length xi approximately 12+/-2A. The results taken together imply the existence of a weakly interconnected and heterogeneous network structure inside the coacervate phase. Structural features of this material are compared with those of agar and gelatin gel, and gelatin coacervate.