title: Loading of halloysite nanotubes with BSA, α-Lac and β-Lg: a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic and thermogravimetric study.
abstract: Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are considered as ideal materials for biotechnological and medical applications. An important feature of halloysite is that it has a different surface chemistry on the inner and outer sides of the tubes. This property means that negatively-charged molecules can be selectively loaded inside the halloysite nanoscale its lumen. Loaded HNTs can be used for the controlled or sustained release of proteins, drugs, bioactive molecules and other agents. We studied the interaction between HNTs and bovine serum albumin, α lactalbumin and β -lactoglobulin loaded into HTNs using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. These techniques enabled us to study the protein conformation and thermal stability, respectively, and to estimate the amount of protein loaded into the HNTs. TEM images confirmed the loading of proteins into HTNs.
authors.affiliation: University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, I-56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Della Porta
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spepi
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tiné