Freeze-Thaw Cycling Induced Isotropic-Nematic Coexistence of Amyloid Fibrils Suspensions. 2016

Jianguo Zhao, and Sreenath Bolisetty, and Jozef Adamcik, and Jun Han, and María P Fernández-Ronco, and Raffaele Mezzenga

Amyloid fibrils are charged semiflexible assemblies with very large aspect ratio (length to diameter, L/D). Because of this large aspect ratio, the isotropic (I) and nematic (N) phase coexistence expected from the first-order thermodynamic nature of the I-N phase transition, as predicted from the Onsager's theory, is vanishingly small and, in practice, challenging to experimentally observe. In this study we present a remarkable widening of the I + N biphasic region in β-lactoglobulin fibrils suspension via freeze-thaw (F-T) cycling. The demixing behavior can be induced and controlled by a slow growth of propagation front of the ice crystals, which grow by excluding the amyloid fibrils from the crystal phase and thus concentrating them in the liquid phase. The growth of the ice crystals is accompanied by the formation of concentrated and elongated tactoid-like structure in the liquid phase. During the subsequent thawing cycling, at large tactoid domains, the mismatch in density caused by the presence of amyloid fibrils is sufficient to generate a sedimentation of the N phase at the bottom of the vial, coexisting with an I phase on the top. We reason why, despite the remarkable stability of the coexisting I and N phases observed over several weeks after F-T cycling, the biphasic region is understood to be a nonequilibrium, metastable state. Yet, the results in this study suggest that the F-T treatment is an effective approach to stabilize multiphase coexistence of liquid crystalline phases in colloidal suspensions of anisotropic particles without the need of additives, such as depleting agents, needed to modify interaction potentials.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007053 Ice The solid substance formed by the FREEZING of water.
D007782 Lactoglobulins Globulins of milk obtained from the WHEY. Lactoglobulin,beta-Lactoglobulin,beta-Lactoglobulin A,beta-Lactoglobulin B,beta-Lactoglobulin C,beta-Lactoglobulin E,beta-Lactoglobulin F,beta-Lactoglobulin G,beta-Lactoglobulin I,beta Lactoglobulin,beta Lactoglobulin A,beta Lactoglobulin B,beta Lactoglobulin C,beta Lactoglobulin E,beta Lactoglobulin F,beta Lactoglobulin G,beta Lactoglobulin I
D010316 Particle Size Relating to the size of solids. Particle Sizes,Size, Particle,Sizes, Particle
D001718 Birefringence The property of nonisotropic media, such as crystals, whereby a single incident beam of light traverses the medium as two beams, each plane-polarized, the planes being at right angles to each other. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed) Birefraction,Double Refraction,Birefractions,Birefringences,Double Refractions,Refraction, Double,Refractions, Double
D005615 Freezing Liquids transforming into solids by the removal of heat. Melting
D000682 Amyloid A fibrous protein complex that consists of proteins folded into a specific cross beta-pleated sheet structure. This fibrillar structure has been found as an alternative folding pattern for a variety of functional proteins. Deposits of amyloid in the form of AMYLOID PLAQUES are associated with a variety of degenerative diseases. The amyloid structure has also been found in a number of functional proteins that are unrelated to disease. Amyloid Fibril,Amyloid Fibrils,Amyloid Substance,Fibril, Amyloid,Fibrils, Amyloid,Substance, Amyloid
D013535 Suspensions Colloids with liquid continuous phase and solid dispersed phase; the term is used loosely also for solid-in-gas (AEROSOLS) and other colloidal systems; water-insoluble drugs may be given as suspensions. Suspension
D014867 Water A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Hydrogen Oxide
D016880 Anisotropy A physical property showing different values in relation to the direction in or along which the measurement is made. The physical property may be with regard to thermal or electric conductivity or light refraction. In crystallography, it describes crystals whose index of refraction varies with the direction of the incident light. It is also called acolotropy and colotropy. The opposite of anisotropy is isotropy wherein the same values characterize the object when measured along axes in all directions. Anisotropies
D044367 Phase Transition A change of a substance from one form or state to another. Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase Transitions,Sol-Gel Phase Transition,Gas Liquid Solid Phase Transitions,Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase Transition,Phase Transition, Gas-Liquid-Solid,Phase Transition, Sol-Gel,Phase Transitions,Phase Transitions, Gas-Liquid-Solid,Phase Transitions, Sol-Gel,Sol Gel Phase Transition,Sol-Gel Phase Transitions,Transition, Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase,Transition, Sol-Gel Phase,Transitions, Gas-Liquid-Solid Phase,Transitions, Sol-Gel Phase

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