Heat- and pH-induced BSA conformational changes, hydrogel formation and application as 3D cell scaffold

Arch Biochem Biophys. 2016 Sep 15:606:134-42. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.07.020. Epub 2016 Jul 30.

Abstract

Aggregation and gelation of globular proteins can be an advantage to generate new forms of nanoscale biomaterials based on the fibrillar architecture. Here, we report results obtained by exploiting the proteins' natural tendency to self-organize in 3D network, for the production of new material based on BSA for medical application. In particular, at five different pH values the conformational and structural changes of the BSA during all the steps of the thermal aggregation and gelation have been analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The macroscopic mechanical properties of these hydrogels have been obtained by rheological measurements. The microscopic structure of the gels have been studied by AFM and SEM images to have a picture of their different spatial arrangement. Finally, the use of the BSA hydrogels as scaffold has been tested in two different cell cultures.

Keywords: BSA; Cell-scaffold; FTIR; Hydrogels; Mechanical spectra; β-aggregates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Cattle
  • Cell Survival
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rheology / methods
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / chemistry*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Hydrogels
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine