Influencing the adhesion properties and wettability of mucin protein films by variation of the environmental pH.

ABSTRACT: Mucins, the main component of the mucus secretions of goblet and epithelial cells, are known for exhibiting a different behaviour in accordance with their surrounding environment (i.e. among others the environmental pH), which induces a drastic change in their measured mechanical properties. In this work, we have first employed Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in Force Spectroscopy mode to evaluate the adhesion of porcine mucin films at the nanoscale, and the changes caused in this particular factor by a pH variation between 7.0 and 4.0, both quite common values in biological conditions. Measurements also involved additional varying factors such as the indenting tip chemistry (hydrophobic vs hydrophilic), its residence time on the measured film (0, 1 and/or 2 seconds), and increasing pulling

SUBMITTER: Sumarokova M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6018421 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature