Production of lysozyme nanofibers using deep eutectic solvent aqueous solutions

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2016 Nov 1:147:36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2016.07.005. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

Abstract

Amyloid fibrils have recently gained a lot of attention due to their morphology, functionality and mechanical strength, allowing for their application in nanofiber-based materials, biosensors, bioactive membranes and tissue engineering scaffolds. The in vitro production of amyloid fibrils is still a slow process, thus hampering the massive production of nanofibers and its consequent use. This work presents a new and faster (2-3h) fibrillation method for hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) using a deep eutectic solvent based on cholinium chloride and acetic acid. Nanofibers with dimensions of 0.5-1μm in length and 0.02-0.1μm in thickness were obtained. Experimental variables such as temperature and pH were also studied, unveiling their influence in fibrillation time and nanofibers morphology. These results open a new scope for protein fibrillation into nanofibers with applications ranging from medicine to soft matter and nanotechnology.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • Female
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Tissue Scaffolds*

Substances

  • Solvents
  • hen egg lysozyme
  • Muramidase