Pectin-lipid self-assembly: influence on the formation of polyhydroxy fatty acids nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles, named cutinsomes, have been prepared from aleuritic (9,10,16-trihidroxipalmitic) acid and tomato fruit cutin monomers (a mixture of mainly 9(10),16-dihydroxypalmitic acid (85%, w/w) and 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (7.5%, w/w)) with pectin in aqueous solution. The process of formation of the nanoparticles of aleuritic acid plus pectin has been monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, while their chemical and morphological characterization was analyzed by ATR-FTIR, TEM, and non-contact AFM. The structure of these nanoparticles can be described as a lipid core with a pectin shell. Pectin facilitated the formation of nanoparticles, by inducing their aggregation in branched chains and favoring the condensation between lipid monomers. Also, pectin determined the self-assembly of cutinsomes on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces, causing their opening and forming interconnected structures. In the case of cutin monomers, the nanoparticles are fused, and the condensation of the hydroxy fatty acids is strongly affected by the presence of the polysaccharide. The interaction of pectin with polyhydroxylated fatty acids could be related to an initial step in the formation of the plant biopolyester cutin.
Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy.
Susana
S
Guzman-Puyol
Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMS), Centro mixto CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla, Avda. Americo Vespuccio 49, Isla de la Cartuja, E-41092, Sevilla, Spain.
José Jesús
JJ
Benítez
Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea (IHSM) La Mayora, Universidad de Málaga-CSIC, Algarrobo-Costa, E-29750, Málaga, Spain.
Eva
E
Domínguez
Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy.
Ilker Sefik
IS
Bayer
Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy.
Roberto
R
Cingolani
Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy.
Athanassia
A
Athanassiou
Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, IHSM La Mayora, UMA-CSIC, Universidad de Málaga, E-29071, Málaga, Spain.
Antonio
A
Heredia
Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), via Morego 30, 16163, Genoa, Italy.
José Alejandro
JA
Heredia-Guerrero
D004951:Esterification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry*
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C059860:aleuritolic acid; C000521:cutin; D010368:Pectins