Spatial Structure and Composition of Polysaccharide−Protein Complexes from Small Angle Neutron Scattering

Advances in Small Angle Neutron Scattering on Polysaccharide Materials

Polysaccharide materials and biomaterials gain the focus of intense research owing to their great versatility in chemical structures and modification possibilities, as well as their biocompatibility, degradability, and sustainability features. This review focuses on the recent advances in the application of SANS on polysaccharide systems covering a broad range of materials such as nanoparticulate assemblies, hydrogels, nanocomposites, and plant-originating nanostructured systems. It motivates the use of SANS in its full potential by demonstrating the features of contrast variation and contrast matching methods and by reporting the methodologies for data analysis and interpretation. As these soft matter systems may be organized in multiple length scales depending on the interactions and chemical bonds between their components, SANS offers exceptional and unique opportunities for advanced characterization and optimization of new nanostructured polysaccharide materials.

The Assembly Mechanism and Mesoscale Architecture of Protein-Polysaccharide Complexes Formed at the Solid-liquid Interface

Protein-polysaccharide composite materials have generated much interest due to their potential use in medical science and biotechnology. A comprehensive understanding of the assembly mechanism and the mesoscale architecture is needed for fabricating protein-polysaccharide composite materials with desired properties. In this study, complex assemblies were built on silica surfaces through a layer-by-layer (LbL) approach using bovine beta-lactoglobulin variant A (βLgA) and pectin as model protein and polysaccharide, respectively. We demonstrated the combined use of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and neutron reflectometry (NR) for elucidating the assembly mechanism as well as the internal architecture of the protein-polysaccharide complexes formed at the solid-liquid interface. Our results show that βLgA and pectin interacted with each other and formed a cohesive matrix structure at the interface consisting of intertwined pectin chains that were cross-linked by βLgA-rich domains. Although the complexes were fabricated in an LbL fashion, the complexes appeared to be relatively homogeneous with βLgA and pectin molecules spatially distributed within the matrix structure. Our results also demonstrate that the density of βLgA-pectin complex assemblies increased with both the overall and local charge density of pectin molecules. Therefore, the physical properties of the protein-polysaccharide matrix structure, including density and level of hydration, can be tuned by using polysaccharides with varying charge patterns, thus promoting the development of composite materials with desired properties.

Dual Transient Networks of Polymer and Micellar Chains: Structure and Viscoelastic Synergy

Dual transient networks were prepared by mixing highly charged long wormlike micelles of surfactants with polysaccharide chains of hydroxypropyl guar above the entanglement concentration for each of the components. The wormlike micelles were composed of two oppositely charged surfactants potassium oleate and n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide with a large excess of anionic surfactant. The system is macroscopically homogeneous over a wide range of polymer and surfactant concentrations, which is attributed to a stabilizing effect of surfactants counterions that try to occupy as much volume as possible in order to gain in translational entropy. At the same time, by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) combined with ultrasmall-angle neutron scattering (USANS), a microphase separation with the formation of polymer-rich and surfactant-rich domains was detected. Rheological studies in the linear viscoelastic regime revealed a synergistic 180-fold enhancement of viscosity and 65-fold increase of the longest relaxation time in comparison with the individual components. This effect was attributed to the local increase in concentration of both components trying to avoid contact with each other, which makes the micelles longer and increases the number of intermicellar and interpolymer entanglements. The enhanced rheological properties of this novel system based on industrially important polymer hold great potential for applications in personal care products, oil recovery and many other fields.

Self-Induced Crystallization in Charged Gold Nanoparticle-Semiflexible Biopolyelectrolyte Complexes

Mixing negatively charged polyelectrolyte (PEL) with positively charged gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in aqueous solution results in electrostatics complexes of different shapes and compactness. Here, when complexing with a semirigid PEL hyaluronic acid (HA), we obtain crystals made of nanoparticles in a new region of the phase diagram, as evidenced by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The Au NPs were initially well dispersed in solution; their size distribution is well controlled but does not need to be extremely narrow. The bacterial hyaluronic acid, polydispersed, is commercially available. Such rather simple materials and mixing preparation produce a highly ordered crystalline phase of electrostatic complexes. The details of the interactions between spherical nanoparticles and linear polymer chains remain to be investigated. In practice, it opens a completely new and unexpected method of complexation. It has high potential, in particular because one can take advantage of the versatility of Au NPs associated with the specificity of biopolymers, varied due to natural biodiversity.

Controlled Loading and Release of Beta-Lactoglobulin in Calcium-Polygalacturonate Hydrogels

We show here how the structure of polygalacturonate (polyGalA) hydrogels cross-linked by Ca²⁺ cations via external gelation controls the loading and release rate of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), a globular protein. Hydrogels prepared from a polyGalA/BLG solution are found to be similar to those obtained from a polyGalA solution in our previous study (Maire du Poset et al. Biomacromolecules 2019, 20 (7), 2864-2872): they exhibit similar transparencies and gradients of mechanical properties and polyGalA concentrations. The nominal BLG/polyGalA ratio of the mixtures is almost recovered within the whole mixed hydrogel despite such strong concentration gradients, except in the part of the hydrogels with the largest mesh size, where more BLG proteins are present. This gradient enables one to tune the amount of protein loaded within the hydrogel. At a local scale, the proteins are distributed evenly within the hydrogel network, as shown by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The release of proteins from hydrogels is driven by Fickian diffusion, and the release rate increases with the mesh size of the network, with a characteristic time of a few hours. The specific structure of these polysaccharide-based hydrogels allows for control of both the dosage and the release rate of the loaded protein and makes them good candidates for use as oral controlled-delivery systems.

Modeling the dynamics of phospholipids in the fluid phase of liposomes

We present the derivation of a new model to describe neutron spin echo spectroscopy and quasi-elastic neutron scattering data on liposomes. We compare the new model with existing approaches and benchmark it with experimental data. The analysis indicates the importance of including all major contributions in the modeling of the intermediate scattering function. Simultaneous analysis of the experimental data on lipids with full contrast and tail contrast matched samples reveals highly confined lipid tail motion. A comparison of their dynamics demonstrates the statistical independence of tail-motion and height-height correlation of the membrane. A more detailed analysis indicates that the lipid tail relaxation is confined to a potential with cylindrical symmetry, in addition to the undulation and diffusive motion of the liposome. Despite substantial differences in the chemistry of the fatty acid tails, the observation indicates a universal behavior. The analysis of partially deuterated systems confirms the strong contribution of the lipid tail to the intermediate scattering function. Within the time range from 5 to 100 ns, the intermediate scattering function can be described by the height-height correlation function. The existence of the fast-localized tail motion and the contribution of slow translational diffusion of liposomes determine the intermediate scattering function for t < 5 ns and t > 100 ns, respectively. Taking into account the limited time window lowers the bending moduli by a factor of 1.3 (DOPC) to 2 (DMPC) compared to the full range.

Protein-Polyelectrolyte Complexes and Micellar Assemblies

In this review, we highlight the recent progress in our understanding of the structure, properties and applications of protein-polyelectrolyte complexes in both bulk and micellar assemblies. Protein-polyelectrolyte complexes form the basis of the genetic code, enable facile protein purification, and have emerged as enterprising candidates for simulating protocellular environments and as efficient enzymatic bioreactors. Such complexes undergo self-assembly in bulk due to a combined influence of electrostatic interactions and entropy gains from counterion release. Diversifying the self-assembly by incorporation of block polyelectrolytes has further enabled fabrication of protein-polyelectrolyte complex micelles that are multifunctional carriers for therapeutic targeted delivery of proteins such as enzymes and antibodies. We discuss research efforts focused on the structure, properties and applications of protein-polyelectrolyte complexes in both bulk and micellar assemblies, along with the influences of amphoteric nature of proteins accompanying patchy distribution of charges leading to unique phenomena including multiple complexation windows and complexation on the wrong side of the isoelectric point.

Integrating Proteins in Layer-by-Layer Assemblies Independently of their Electrical Charge

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is an attractive method for protein immobilization at interfaces, a much wanted step for biotechnologies and biomedicine. Integrating proteins in LbL thin films is however very challenging due to their low conformational entropy, heterogeneous spatial distribution of charges, and polyampholyte nature. Protein-polyelectrolyte complexes (PPCs) are promising building blocks for LbL construction owing to their standardized charge and polyelectrolyte (PE) corona. In this work, lysozyme was complexed with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) at different ionic strengths and pH values. The PPCs size and electrical properties were investigated, and the forces driving complexation were elucidated, in the light of computations of polyelectrolyte conformation, with a view to further unravel LbL construction mechanisms. Quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy were used to monitor the integration of PPCs compared to the one of bare protein molecules in LbL assemblies, and colorimetric assays were performed to determine the protein amount in the thin films. Layers built with PPCs show higher protein contents and hydration levels. Very importantly, the results also show that LbL construction with PPCs mainly relies on standard PE-PE interactions, independent of the charge state of the protein, in contrast to classical bare protein assembly with PEs. This considerably simplifies the incorporation of proteins in multilayers, which will be beneficial for biosensing, heterogeneous biocatalysis, biotechnologies, and medical applications that require active proteins at interfaces.

Design of polygalacturonate hydrogels using iron(II) as cross-linkers: A promising route to protect bioavailable iron against oxidation

We designed stable and highly reproducible hydrogels by external unidirectional diffusion of Fe²⁺ ions into aqueous solutions of polygalacturonate (polyGal) chains. The Fe²⁺ ions act as cross-linkers between the Gal units in such a way that both the molar ratio R ([Fe²⁺]/[Gal units] = 0.25) and the mesh size of the polyGal network at the local scale (ξ = 75 ± 5 Å) have constant values within the whole gel, as respectively determined by titration and Small Angle Neutron Scattering. From macroscopic point of view, there is a progressive decrease of polyGal concentration from the part of the gel formed in the early stages of the gelation process, which is homogeneous, transparent and whose Young modulus has a high value of ∼10⁵ Pa, up to the part of the gel formed in the late stages, which is heterogeneous, highly turbid and has a much lower Young modulus of ∼10³ Pa. Since the local organization of the polyGal chains remains identical all along the hydrogels, this macroscopic concentration gradient originates from the formation of heterogeneities at a mesoscopic length scale during the gelation process. In addition, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy measurements remarkably reveal that Fe²⁺ ions keep their +II oxidation state in the whole gels once they have cross-linked the Gal units. These polyGal hydrogels thus protect iron against oxidation and could be used for iron fortification.

Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids: An overview of a neglected class of surfactants with multiresponsive properties

In this work, an overview on aqueous solutions of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids is given. Unique properties arise from the combination of the nonionic, temperature-responsive polyoxyethylene block with the weakly ionic, pH-responsive carboxylic acid termination in a single surfactant headgroup. Accordingly, this class of surfactant finds broad application across very different sectors. Despite their large use on an industrial and a technical scale, the literature lacks a systematic and detailed characterization of their physico-chemical properties which is provided herein. In addition, a comprehensive overview is given of their self-assembly and interfacial behavior, of their use as colloidal building blocks and for large-scale applications.

Protein-polyelectrolyte complexes to improve the biological activity of proteins in layer-by-layer assemblies

A standard method of protein immobilization is proposed, based on the use of protein-polyelectrolyte complexes (PPCs) as building blocks for layer-by-layer assembly. Thicker multilayers, with a higher polyelectrolyte fraction, are obtained with PPCs compared to single protein molecules. Biological activity is not only maintained, but specific activity is also higher, as demonstrated for lysozyme-poly(styrene sulfonate) complexes. This is attributed to the more hydrated state of the assemblies. This new method of protein immobilization opens up perspectives for biotechnology and biomedical applications.

Binding and Release between Polymeric Carrier and Protein Drug: pH-Mediated Interplay of Coulomb Forces, Hydrogen Bonding, van der Waals Interactions, and Entropy

The accelerating search for new types of drugs and delivery strategies poses challenge to understanding the mechanism of delivery. To this end, a detailed atomistic picture of binding between the drug and carrier is quintessential. Although many studies focus on the electrostatics of drug-vector interactions, it has also been pointed out that entropic factors relating to water and counterions can play an important role. By carrying out extensive molecular dynamics simulations and subsequently validating with experiments, we shed light herein on the binding in aqueous solution between a protein drug and polymeric carrier. We examined the complexation between the polymer poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate-b-poly(carboxyethyl acrylate (PEGMEA-b-PCEA) and the protein egg white lysozyme, a system that acts as a model for polymer-vector/protein-drug delivery systems. The complexation has been visualized and characterized using contact maps and hydrogen bonding analyses for five independent simulations of the complex, each running over 100 ns. Binding at physiological pH is, as expected, mediated by Coulombic attraction between the positively charged protein and negatively charged carboxylate groups on the polymer. However, we find that consideration of electrostatics alone is insufficient to explain the complexation behavior at low pH. Intracomplex hydrogen bonds, van der Waals interactions, as well as water-water interactions dictate that the polymer does not release the protein at pH 4.8 or indeed at pH 3.2 even though the Coulombic attractions are largely removed as carboxylate groups on the polymer become titrated. Experiments in aqueous solution carried out at pH 7.0, 4.5, and 3.0 confirm the veracity of the computed binding behavior. Overall, these combined simulation and experimental results illustrate that coulomb interactions need to be complemented with consideration of other entropic forces, mediated by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding, to search for adequate descriptors to predict binding and release properties of polymer-protein complexes. Advances in computational power over the past decade make atomistic molecular dynamics simulations such as implemented here one of the few avenues currently available to elucidate the complexity of these interactions and provide insights toward finding adequate descriptors. Thus, there remains much room for improvement of design principles for efficient capture and release delivery systems.

Encapsulation of active ingredients in polysaccharide-protein complex coacervates

Polysaccharide-protein complex coacervates are amongst the leading pair of biopolymer systems that has been used over the past decades for encapsulation of numerous active ingredients. Complex coacervation of polysaccharides and proteins has received increasing research interest for the practical application in encapsulation industry since the pioneering work of complex coacervation by Bungenburg de Jong and co-workers on the system of gelatin-acacia, a protein-polysaccharide system. Because of the versatility and numerous potential applications of these systems essentially in the fields of food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agriculture, there has been intense interest in recent years for both fundamental and applied studies. Precisely, the designing of the micronscale and nanoscale capsules for encapsulation and control over their properties for practical applications garners renewed interest. This review discusses on the overview of polysaccharide-protein complex coacervates and their use for the encapsulation of diverse active ingredients, designing and controlling of the capsules for delivery systems and developments in the area.

Folding Behaviors of Protein (Lysozyme) Confined in Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelle

The folding/unfolding behavior of proteins (enzymes) in confined space is important for their properties and functions, but such a behavior remains largely unexplored. In this article, we reported our finding that lysozyme and a double hydrophilic block copolymer, methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)5K-block-poly(l-aspartic acid sodium salt)10 (mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10), can form a polyelectrolyte complex micelle with a particle size of ∼30 nm, as verified by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The unfolding and refolding behaviors of lysozyme molecules in the presence of the copolymer were studied by microcalorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Upon complex formation with mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10, lysozyme changed from its initial native state to a new partially unfolded state. Compared with its native state, this copolymer-complexed new folding state of lysozyme has different secondary and tertiary structures, a decreased thermostability, and significantly altered unfolding/refolding behaviors. It was found that the native lysozyme exhibited reversible unfolding and refolding upon heating and subsequent cooling, while lysozyme in the new folding state (complexed with the oppositely charged PLD segments of the polymer) could unfold upon heating but could not refold upon subsequent cooling. By employing the heating-cooling-reheating procedure, the prevention of complex formation between lysozyme and polymer due to the salt screening effect was observed, and the resulting uncomplexed lysozyme regained its proper unfolding and refolding abilities upon heating and subsequent cooling. Besides, we also pointed out the important role the length of the PLD segment played during the formation of micelles and the monodispersity of the formed micelles. Furthermore, the lysozyme-mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10 mixtures prepared in this work were all transparent, without the formation of large aggregates or precipitates in solution as frequently observed in other protein-polyelectrolyte systems. Hence, the present protein-PEGylated poly(amino acid) mixture provides an ideal water-soluble model system to study the important role of electrostatic interaction in the complexation between proteins and polymers, leading to important new knowledge on the protein-polymer interactions. Moreover, the polyelectrolyte complex micelle formed between protein and PEGylated polymer may provide a good drug delivery vehicle for therapeutic proteins.

Co-assembly in chitosan-surfactant mixtures: thermodynamics, structures, interfacial properties and applications

In this review, different aspects characterizing chitosan-surfactant mixtures are summarized and compared. Chitosan is a bioderived cationic polysaccharide that finds wide-ranged applications in various field, e.g., medical or food industry, in which synergistic effects with surfactant can play a fundamental role. In particular, the behavior of chitosan interacting with strong and weak anionic, nonionic as well as cationic surfactants is reviewed. We put a focus on oppositely charged systems, as they exhibit the most interesting features. In that context, we discuss the thermodynamic description of the interaction and in particular the structural changes as they occur as a function of the mixed systems and external parameters. Moreover, peculiar properties of chitosan coated phospholipid vesicles are summarized. Finally, their co-assembly at interfaces is briefly reviewed. Despite the behavior of the mentioned systems might strongly differ, resulting in a high variety of properties, few general rules can be pointed out which improve the understanding of such complex systems.

Application of X-ray and neutron small angle scattering techniques to study the hierarchical structure of plant cell walls: a review

Plant cell walls present an extremely complex structure of hierarchically assembled cellulose microfibrils embedded in a multi-component matrix. The biosynthesis process determines the mechanism of cellulose crystallisation and assembly, as well as the interaction of cellulose with other cell wall components. Thus, a knowledge of cellulose microfibril and bundle architecture, and the structural role of matrix components, is crucial for understanding cell wall functional and technological roles. Small angle scattering techniques, combined with complementary methods, provide an efficient approach to characterise plant cell walls, covering a broad and relevant size range while minimising experimental artefacts derived from sample treatment. Given the system complexity, approaches such as component extraction and the use of plant cell wall analogues are typically employed to enable the interpretation of experimental results. This review summarises the current research status on the characterisation of the hierarchical structure of plant cell walls using small angle scattering techniques.

Design and characterization of self-assembled fish sarcoplasmic protein-alginate nanocomplexes

Macrostructures based on natural polymers are subject to large attention, as the application range is wide within the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study we present nanocomplexes (NCXs) made from electrostatic self-assembly between negatively charged alginate and positively charged fish sarcoplasmic proteins (FSP), prepared by bulk mixing. A concentration screening revealed that there was a range of alginate and FSP concentrations where stable NCXs with similar properties were formed, rather than two exact concentrations. The size of the NCXs was 293 ± 3 nm, and the zeta potential was -42 ± 0.3 mV. The NCXs were stable in water, gastric buffer, intestinal buffer and HEPES buffered glycose, and at all pH values from 2 to 9 except pH 3, where they aggregated. When proteolytic enzymes were present in the buffer, the NCXs were degraded. Only at high concentrations the NCXs caused a decreased viability in HeLa and U2OS cell lines. The simple processing procedure and the high stability of the NCXs, makes them excellent candidates for use in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Structural behaviour differences in low methoxy pectin solutions in the presence of divalent cations (Ca(2+) and Zn(2+)): a process driven by the binding mechanism of the cation with the galacturonate unit

In this paper, we compare the interactions between low methoxy pectin (LMP) and either Ca(2+) or Zn(2+) in semi-dilute solutions. Intrinsic viscosity and turbidity measurements reveal that pectin-calcium solutions are more viscous, but yet less turbid, than pectin-zinc ones. To get a molecular understanding of the origin of this rather unexpected behavior, we further performed isothermal titration calorimetry, small angle neutron scattering experiments, as well as molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that calcium cations induce the formation of a more homogeneous network of pectin than zinc cations do. The molecular dynamics simulations indicate that this difference could originate from the way the two cations bind to the galacturonate unit (Gal), the main component of LMP: zinc interacts with both carboxylate and hydroxyl groups of Gal, in a similar way to that described in the so-called egg-box model, whereas calcium only interacts with carboxylate groups. This different binding behavior seems to arise from the stronger interaction of water molecules with zinc than with calcium. Accordingly, galacturonate chains are more loosely associated with each other in the presence of Ca(2+) than with Zn(2+). This may improve their ability to form a gel, not only by dimerization, but also by the formation of point-like cross-links. Overall, our results show that zinc binds less easily to pectin than calcium does.

Chitosan/alkylethoxy carboxylates: a surprising variety of structures

In this work, we present a comprehensive structural characterization of long-term stable complexes formed by biopolycation chitosan and oppositely charged nonaoxyethylene oleylether carboxylate. These two components are attractive for many potential applications, with chitosan being a bioderived polymer and the surfactant being ecologically benign and mild. Experiments were performed at different mixing ratios Z (ratio of the nominal charges of surfactant/polyelectrolyte) and different pH values such that the degree of ionization of the surfactant is largely changed whereas that of chitosan is only slightly affected. The structural characterization was performed by combining static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to cover a large structural range. Highly complex behavior is observed, with three generic structures formed that depend on pH and the mixing ratio, namely, (i) a micelle-decorated network at low Z and pH, (ii) rodlike complexes with the presence of aligned micelles at medium Z and pH, and (iii) compacted micellar aggregates forming a supraaggregate surrounded by a chitosan shell at high Z and pH. Accordingly, the state of aggregation in these mixtures can be tuned structurally over quite a range only by rather small changes in pH.

Microcapsules with protein fibril reinforced shells: effect of fibril properties on mechanical strength of the shell

In this study, we produced microcapsules using layer-by-layer adsorption of food-grade polyelectrolytes on an emulsion droplet template. We compared the mechanical stability of microcapsules to shells consisting of alternating layers of ovalbumin-high methoxyl pectin (Ova-HMP) complexes and semi-flexible ovalbumin (Ova) fibrils (average contour length, L(c) ~ 200 nm), with microcapsules built of alternating layers of lysozyme-high methoxyl pectin (LYS-HMP) complexes and lysozyme (LYS) fibrils. Two types of LYS fibrils were used: short and rod-like (L(c) ~ 500 nm) and long and semi-flexible (L(c) = 1.2-1.5 μm). At a low number of layers (≤4), microcapsules from Ova complexes and fibrils were stronger than microcapsules prepared from LYS complexes and fibrils. With an increase of the number of layers, the mechanical stability of microcapsules from LYS-HMP/LYS fibrils increased significantly and capsules were stronger than those prepared from Ova-HMP/Ova fibrils with the same number of layers. The contour length of the LYS fibrils did not have a significant effect on mechanical stability of the LYS-HMP/LYS fibril capsules. The stiffer LYS fibrils produce capsules with a hard but more brittle shell, whereas the semi-flexible Ova fibrils produce capsules with a softer but more stretchable shell. These results show that mechanical properties of this type of capsule can be tuned by varying the flexibility of the protein fibrils.

Protein/polysaccharide complexes and coacervates in food systems

Since the pioneering work of Bungenberg de Jong and co-workers on gelatin-acacia gum complex coacervation in the 1920-40s, protein/polysaccharide complexes and coacervates have received increasing research interest in order to broaden the possible food applications. This review focuses on the main research streams followed in this field during the last 12 years regarding: i) the parameters influencing the formation of complexes and coacervates in protein-polysaccharide systems; ii) the characterization of the kinetics of phase separation and multi-scale structure of the complexes and coacervates; and iii) the investigation of the functional properties of complexes and coacervates in food applications. This latter section encompasses various technological aspects, namely: the viscosifying and gelling ability, the foaming and emulsifying ability and finally, the stabilization and release of bioactives or sensitive compounds.

The model Lysozyme-PSSNa system for electrostatic complexation: Similarities and differences with complex coacervation

We review, based on structural information, the mechanisms involved when putting in contact two nano-objects of opposite electrical charge, in the case of one negatively charged polyion, and a compact charged one. The central case is mixtures of PSS, a strong flexible polyanion (the salt of a strong acid, and with high linear charge density), and Lysozyme, a globular protein with a global positive charge. A wide accurate and consistent set of information in different situations is available on the structure at local scales (5-1000Å), due to the possibility of matching, the reproducibility of the system, its well-defined electrostatics features, and the well-defined structures obtained. We have related these structures to the observations at macroscopic scale of the phase behavior, and to the expected mechanisms of coacervation. On the one hand, PSS/Lysozyme mixtures show accurately many of what is expected in PEL/protein complexation, and phase separation, as reviewed by de Kruif: under certain conditions some well-defined complexes are formed before any phase separation, they are close to neutral; even in excess of one species, complexes are only modestly charged (surface charges in PEL excess). Neutral cores are attracting each other, to form larger objects responsible for large turbidity. They should lead the system to phase separation; this is observed in the more dilute samples, while in more concentrated ones the lack of separation in turbid samples is explained by locking effects between fractal aggregates. On the other hand, although some of the features just listed are the same required for coacervation, this phase transition is not really obtained. The phase separation has all the macroscopic aspects of a fluid (undifferentiated liquid/gas phase) - solid transition, not of a fluid-fluid (liquid-liquid) one, which would correspond to real coacervation). The origin of this can be found in the interaction potential between primary complexes formed (globules), which agrees qualitatively with a potential shape of the type repulsive long range attractive very short range. Finally we have considered two other systems with accurate structural information, to see whether other situations can be found. For Pectin, the same situation as PSS can be found, as well as other states, without solid precipitation, but possibly with incomplete coacervation, corresponding to differences in the globular structure. It is understandable that these systems show smoother interaction potential between the complexes (globules) likely to produce liquid-liquid transition. Finally, we briefly recall new results on Hyaluronan/Lysozyme, which present clear signs of coacervation in two liquid phases, and at the same time the existence of non-globular complexes, of specific geometry (thin rods) before any phase separation. These mixtures fulfill many of the requirements for complex coacervation, while other theories should also be checked like the one of Shklovskii et al.

Thermodynamic characterization of acacia gum-beta-lactoglobulin complex coacervation

The interactions of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) with total acacia gum (TAG) in aqueous solutions have been investigated at pH 4.2 and 25 degrees C. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) has been used to determine the type and magnitude of the energies involved in the complexation process of TAG to BLG. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic mobility (mu(E)), turbidity measurements (tau), and optical microscopy were used as complementary methods on the titration mode to better understand the sum of complicated phenomena at the origin of thermodynamic behavior. Two different binding steps were detected. Thermodynamic parameters indicate a first exothermic step with an association constant K(a1) of (48.4 +/- 3.6) x 10(7) M(-1) that appeared to be mostly enthalpy-driven. A positive heat capacity change was obtained corresponding at the signature for electrostatic interactions. The second binding step, 45 times less affinity (K(a2) = (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1)), was largely endothermic and more entropy-driven with a negative value of heat capacity change, indicative of a hydrophobic contribution to the binding process. The population distribution of the different species in solution and their sizes were determined through DLS. Dispersion turbidity of particles markedly increased and reached a maximum at a 0.015 TAG/BLG molar ratio. Largely more numerous coacervates appeared at this molar ratio (0.015) and two different kinds of morphologies were noticed for the large coacervates. Above the TAG/BLG molar ratio of 0.015, dispersions turbidity decreased, which might be due to an excess of negative charges onto particles as revealed by electrophoretic mobility measurements. The results presented in this study should provide information about the thermodynamic mechanisms of TAG/BLG binding processes and will facilitate the application of the formed supramolecular assemblies as functional ingredients in food and nonfood systems.

Multiple scale reorganization of electrostatic complexes of poly(styrenesulfonate) and lysozyme

We report on a SANS investigation into the potential for these structural reorganization of complexes composed of lysozyme and small PSS chains of opposite charge if the physicochemical conditions of the solutions are changed after their formation. Mixtures of solutions of lysozyme and PSS with high matter content and with an introduced charge ratio [-]/[+](intro) close to the electrostatic stoichiometry lead to suspensions that are macroscopically stable. They are composed at local scale of dense globular primary complexes of radius approximately 100 A; at a higher scale they are organized fractally with a dimension 2.1. We first show that the dilution of the solution of complexes, all other physicochemical parameters remaining constant, induces a macroscopic destabilization of the solutions but does not modify the structure of the complexes at submicronic scales. This suggests that the colloidal stability of the complexes can be explained by the interlocking of the fractal aggregates in a network at high concentration: dilution does not break the local aggregate structure, but it does destroy the network. We show, second, that the addition of salt does not change the almost frozen inner structure of the cores of the primary complexes, although it does encourage growth of the complexes; these coalesce into larger complexes as salt has partially screened the electrostatic repulsions between two primary complexes. These larger primary complexes remain aggregated with a fractal dimension of 2.1. Third, we show that the addition of PSS chains up to [-]/[+](intro) approximately 20, after the formation of the primary complex with a [-]/[+](intro) close to 1, only slightly changes the inner structure of the primary complexes. Moreover, in contrast to the synthesis achieved in the one-step mixing procedure where the proteins are unfolded for a range of [-]/[+](intro), the native conformation of the proteins is preserved inside the frozen core.