title: Hydrodynamic characterisation of chitosan and its interaction with two polyanions: DNA and xanthan.
abstract: Chitosan, a soluble polycationic derivative of insoluble chitin, has been widely considered for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Commercial ("C") and in-house laboratory ("L") prepared chitosan samples extracted from crustaceous shells with different molecular weight and degrees of acetylation (25% and 15%) were compared with regards to (i) weight-average molecular weight (Mw); (ii) sedimentation coefficient (s(o)(20,w)) distribution, and (iii) intrinsic viscosity ([η]). These parameters were estimated using a combination of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), size exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS) and differential pressure viscometry. Polydisperse distributions were seen from sedimentation coefficient distributions and elution profiles from SEC-MALS. Mw values obtained for each sample by sedimentation equilibrium measurements were in excellent agreement with those obtained from SEC-MALS. Mark-Houwink-Kuhn-Sakurada (MHKS) and Wales van Holde analyses of the data all suggest a semi-flexible conformation. The principle of co-sedimentation was then used to monitor the interactions of the two different molecular weights of L chitosans with two polyanions, DNA and xanthan (another double helical high molecular weight molecule). Interactions were clearly observed and then quantified from the changes in the sedimentation coefficient distribution of the mixture compared to unmixed controls using sedimentation velocity. The interactions appeared to show a strong dependence on molecular weight. The relevance of this for DNA condensation applications is indicated.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: Fahad M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Almutairi
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: Tayyibe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erten
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK; Insulin and Diabetes Experimental Research (IDER) Group, University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Clifton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Food BioSciences Department, Teagasc, The Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Food BioSciences Department, Teagasc, The Irish Agricultural and Food Development Authority, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Pádraig
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Şamil
authors.initials: MŞ
authors.lastname: Kök
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, UK.
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK.
authors.forename: Arthur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, UK. Electronic address: steve.harding@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Harding
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013696:Temperature; D014461:Ultracentrifugation / Q000379:methods; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan; C002563:xanthan gum
keywords: Sedimentation distribution; co-sedimentation, double helix, multi-Gaussian fit; flexibility