Interactions of hyaluronan grafted on protein surfaces studied using a quartz crystal microbalance and a surface force balance.
Vocal folds are complex and multilayer-structured where the main layer is widely composed of hyaluronan (HA). The viscoelasticity of HA is key to voice production in the vocal fold as it affects the initiation and maintenance of phonation. In this study a simple layer-structured surface model was set up to mimic the structure of the vocal folds. The interactions between two opposing surfaces bearing HA were measured and characterised to analyse HA's response to the normal and shear compression at a stress level similar to that in the vocal fold. From the measurements of the quartz crystal microbalance, atomic force microscopy and the surface force balance, the osmotic pressure, normal interactions, elasticity change, volume fraction, refractive index and friction of both HA and the supporting protein layer were obtained. These findings may shed light on the physical mechanism of HA function in the vocal fold and the specific role of HA as an important component in the effective treatment of the vocal fold disease.
State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum, 66 Changjiang West Road, Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China. leijiang@upc.edu.cn.
Lei
L
Jiang
Juan
J
Han
Limin
L
Yang
Hongchao
H
Ma
Bo
B
Huang
D004548:Elasticity; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D058525:Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D033081:Shear Strength; D014783:Viscosity
D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid