Mean-square displacement relationship in bioprotectant systems by elastic neutron scattering

Biophys J. 2004 May;86(5):3241-9. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(04)74372-6.

Abstract

Neutron intensity elastic scans on trehalose, maltose, and sucrose/H(2)O mixtures as a function of concentration, temperature, and exchanged wave vector are presented. The experimental findings show a crossover in molecular fluctuations between harmonic and anharmonic dynamical regimes. A new operative definition for the degree of fragility of glass-forming systems is furnished by using explicitly the connection between viscosity and mean-square displacement. The procedure is tested for the investigated mixtures and for a set of glass-forming systems. In this frame, the stronger character of trehalose/H(2)O mixture indicates a better attitude in respect to maltose and sucrose/H(2)O mixtures to encapsulate biostructures in a more rigid matrix.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods
  • Electrons
  • Glass
  • Maltose / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Statistical
  • Neutrons*
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Spectrophotometry
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Sucrose / chemistry
  • Temperature
  • Trehalose / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Water
  • Sucrose
  • Maltose
  • Trehalose