title: Interaction between lysozyme and colloidal poly(NIPAM-co-acrylic acid) microgels.
abstract: The interaction between lysozyme and colloidal poly(NIPAM-co-acrylic acid) microgels is investigated in aqueous solutions at neutral pH. Lysozyme binding isotherms, obtained within the ionic strength range 10-220 mM, indicate that the maximum uptake at 10 mM is 2.4 g lysozyme per gram dry gel, and that the uptake capacity decreases with increasing ionic strength to approximately 0 at 220 mM. Swelling isotherms, obtained from photon correlation spectroscopy measurements, show that the binding is accompanied by a substantial deswelling of the microgels. The microgel suspension is stable up to a protein-to-polymer charge ratio in the microgels of about 0.6, largely independent of ionic strength, whereas flocculation/sedimentation occurs at higher charge ratios. The charge ratio 0.6 corresponds to a zeta-potential of about -6 mV, as obtained from measurements of electrophoretic mobility. Binding and swelling isotherms are analyzed in detail and compared with predictions of theoretical model calculations. The influence of protein-protein attraction is highlighted, as well as the interplay between electrostatic interactions and network elasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Box 580, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gernandt
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D009113:Muramidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003102:Colloids; D005782:Gels; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D009113:Muramidase; C036658:acrylic acid