AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Neutron Scattering Focus Topic Wednesday Sessions
       Session NT+AS-WeA

Paper NT+AS-WeA10
Stabilization of a Lipid Multilayer System by Polysaccharides

Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 5:00 pm, Room 207

Session: Applications of Neutron Scattering II
Presenter: Reiner Dahint, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Authors: M. Kreuzer, University of Heidelberg, Germany
M. Strobl, University of Heidelberg, Germany
M. Reinhardt, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Germany
R. Steitz, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Germany
R. Dahint, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Correspondent: Click to Email
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a high molecular weight polysaccharide. It is involved in a wide range of processes in the human body, such as wound healing, tumor progression and joint lubrication. Here we show that HA also stabilizes a lipid multilayer system at physiological conditions. The observed effect may be an important contribution to joint lubrication as lipid films covering the cartilage of natural joints are assumed to reduce internal friction. Neutron reflectometry investigations were carried out at V6 and the new BioRef neutron reflectometer at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. Measurements against excess D2O verified, that an oligolamellar DMPC lipid bilayer coating remains stable on a silicon substrate at 21 °C in its ordered state (Lß’, Pβ’) with a d-spacing of 66 Å, but detaches almost completely from the solid support at 38 °C in its chain-disordered state (Lα). By contrast, oligolamellar lipid bilayers remain stable on a substrate at 38 °C when incubated with a solution of HA in D2O. Lamella transformations occur over time, resulting in a new lamella phase with a d-spacing of 233 Å. This effect has to our knowledge not been reported before on solid-supported oligolamellar systems. We will discuss potential consequences of the “new” lamella phase with respect to further insight into joint lubrication.