Journal of Nanomaterials
Volume 2017 (2017), Article ID 6857637, 9 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6857637

Research Article

Characterization of the Spindle Morphology Nanomicelles Assembled from Sericin and Gelatin

Xiaozhou Su,¹ Lei Li,² and Weihan Huang¹

¹School of Textiles, Zhongyuan University of Technology, Zhengzhou 450007, China
²School of Civil and Architecture Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics, Zhengzhou 450015, China

Correspondence should be addressed to Xiaozhou Su; 739853899@qq.com

Received 29 June 2017; Revised 24 September 2017; Accepted 10 October 2017; Published 14 November 2017

Academic Editor: Felipe A. La Porta

Copyright © 2017 Xiaozhou Su et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Complex nanomicelles were prepared by sericin and type A gelatin with molecular weight of 5789 Da and 128664 Da separately. The assembling conditions were as follows: mass ratio (sericin/gelatin) was 1 : 1, protein concentration was 0.5%, temperature was 35°C, and assembling time was 18 hours. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were conducted to observe and characterize the complex nanomicelles. Results showed that the complex sericin/gelatin micelles was a kind of nanospindle micelles. The micelles had high electrochemical stability, thermal stability, antidilution stability, and storage stability.

1. Introduction

Amphiphilic block copolymer included synthetic polymers and natural polymers. Natural polymers included casein, keratin, gelatin, collagen, silk fibroin, and sericin. Due to the safety, nontoxicity, stable performance, good biocompatibility, and low price for the natural polymer, it had received more and more attention in recent years.

The phase behavior of the synthetic block polymer for diblock copolymers (A-B) and triblock copolymers (A-B-A, A-B-C) had been extensively investigated [1–3]. It included PB-PDMS, PE-PEE, PS-PI, PI-PS, PEO-PEE PI–PS–P2VP, PS–PEB–PMMA, PS–PI–P2VP, PS–PB–P2VP, and PI–PS–PI; it can self-organize into spherical, cylindrical, lamellar, gyroid morphologies, and so on [4–13].

Complex micelles were different from ordinary polymeric micelles. Complex micelles core or shell was composed of two or more than two kinds of polymers (or polymers with small molecular compounds) by ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force, and other intermolecular forces. The introduction of multicomponent provided complex micelles with more excellent properties and also increased the regulation performance [14–20]. Organic/organic, organic/metal, inorganic/organic, and biological/abiotic composites and nanocomposites with more sophisticated structure can be acquired by self-assembling of the complex micelles. The diversity of these materials through self-assembling far more exceeded other methods. These versatile and unique self-assembly materials will be widely used in many fields, such as optoelectronics, biopharmaceuticals, and chemical engineering [21, 22].

Protein was an atypical block copolymer. The assembling principle for protein micelles in solution was more complex. Not only can protein chain segment, temperature, time, and pH affect the assembling process, but also the multilevel structure of protein can have significant influence. Research showed that some protein can be assembled into spherical micelles [23–27]. But there were seldom reports on assembling different morphology of complex micelles based on using different proteins by controlling assembling conditions.

Based on these viewpoints, our studies intended for specific morphology and performances have been conducted. There were numerous potential exciting discoveries and applications of these complex block copolymer morphologies that currently awaited exploitation. New materials with exceptional property can be prepared through self-assembling by using natural protein. This material belonged to double hydrophilic aqueous block copolymer and it can respond to any changes in environmental conditions in aqueous solution. This kind of environment was similar to the microenvironment in which organisms and cell existed. Therefore, this type of polymer will play an important role in the field of drug release, cell simulation, biosensor, and virus detection [28–30]. Micelles with different morphology had diverse applications in drug delivery. For example, rod-like micelles had different drug loading space and drug release kinetics compared with the spherical micelles. Rod-like micelles had significant advantages over spherical micelles in preparing pulmonary delivery system because of thin wall structure [31].

Sericin was a kind of natural material that had long been taken as waste in silk reeling industry. It has many bioactivities, such as moisturizing, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer functions. It can promote cell adhesion and proliferation and has good biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. It owned a large number of chemical groups such as amino, hydroxy, and carboxyl group that can be used for chemical crosslinking and modification [32–37]. Gelatin was derived from collagen and it had excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. It also had massive functional groups in amino acid side chains which can be easily modified and cross-linked. In recent years, gelatin had been widely used in drug delivery system [38–41]. Based on these characteristics, our experiment intended for acquiring complex micelles with specific morphology and property had been conducted by using sericin and gelatin. The product can be used for cosmetic and food, drug release, biosensor and nanomaterial processing, and manufacturing.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

Porcine skin type A gelatin (V900863, reagent grade) was supplied by Sigma Company Ltd. Sodium carbonate was used to dissolve the sericin protein. The reaction temperature was 95°C, system pH was 13, mass concentration of sodium carbonate was 5 g/L, liquor ratio was 50 : 1, and the reaction time was 3 hours. All the other reagents used were of analytical grade. The ultrafiltration membrane with molecular weight cutoff 500 Da was used to purify the sericin.

2.2. Molecular Weight Measurement

Sericin protein and gelatin solutions with 2% mass concentration were prepared with 0.1 M NaNO₃ buffer. The measurement was performed at the high performance liquid chromatograph (Waters, 600E-2487). 0.1 M of NaNO₃ buffer was used as mobile phase and glucan as standard sample.

2.3. Preparation of the Complex Micelles

The method used by Liu et al. served as reference method in preparation complex micelles [23, 24]. Sericin and gelatin solutions with 0.5% mass concentration were prepared individually. These two types of solutions were mixed together at the mass ratio of 1 : 1; then the pH of the mixed solution was adjust to 6.5 and assembled at 35°C for 18 hours. Finally, 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution was added to fix the complex micelle at 25°C for at least 12 hours.

2.4. Assembly Efficiency Measurement

The assembly efficiency was measured by ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) method. The method of preparing OPA solution is based on the protocol report by Goodno et al. [42]. 80 mg of ortho-phthalaldehyde was added to 2 mL 95% ethanol and 50 mL 0.1 mol/L Na₂B₄O₇ solution (pH 9.5) was prepared firstly. These two solutions were then transferred to a 100 mL volumetric flask, added to 10 mL 10% SDS solution and 0.2 mL mercaptoethanol, and diluted with deionized water to 100 mL. 0.1 mL sericin/gelatin mixed solution (0.5%) and complex micelles solution (0.5%) with different weight ratios were mixed with 2.7 mL OPA solution and their absorbance at 340 nm was measured by UV/VIS spectrometer. L-leucine was used as standard sample and its working curve was obtained at the same test conditions. The formula for calculating assembly efficiency is as follows: assembly efficiency %, where was the absorbance of the solution before assembly and was the absorbance of the solution after assembly.

2.5. Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta-Potential Measurement

The apparent -average diameter (), polydispersity (PDI), and zeta-potential were measured by a Zeta Sizer Nano ZS90 (Malvern Instrument, Worcs, UK) equipped with 4 mW He-Ne Laser. The test was carried out at °C, and the measurements were performed at a scattering angle of 90°. The concentration was 0.5 mg/mL for measurement in each micelles sample.

2.6. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Measurements

The morphology of the micelles was observed by Hitachi S-4800 field emission scanning electron microscope at 1 kV by using the liquid nitrogen. The micelle solution (0.5%) was diluted 500 times and dried at the room temperature. The specimens were coated with gold and conditioned at °C in desiccators containing saturated solutions of Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O (50 ± 2% relative humidity, RH) for at least 12 hs prior to testing.

2.7. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Measurements

Micelle samples were prepared by dropping the solution on silicon surface and dried at room temperature. The test was carried out on Seiko Atomic Force Microscopy SPA400-SPI3800N in tapping mode.

2.8. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Measurements

TEM characterization was performed on a FEI Tecnai F20 TEM using the Nanofactory TEM-scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) holder. The micelles concentration was 0.5 mg/mL for testing.

2.9. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy Analysis

FT-IR spectra of the complex micelles were measured by an Equinox 55 Spectrometer (Bruker). The sample was desiccated in vacuum freeze dryer for 12 hs before test. The analysis was performed in triplicate.

2.10. Thermal Analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed with an instrument (TA DSC-Q2000) from 40°C to 350°C at a heating rate of 5°C/min. The sample was desiccated in vacuum freeze dryer for 12 hs to get rid of the moisture before testing.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Assembly Efficiency of the Complex Micelles

Absorbance was used to perform linear fitting calculation with concentration . The standard curve equation is as follows: , . It showed a good linear relationship for L-leucine between and when its concentration is in the range of 50–800 μg/mL. The absorbance was measured under different ratio of weight (4 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 4) for sericin/gelatin before and after preparation of the complex micelles. The results of the assembly efficiency were shown in Figure 1. As the figure showed, the assembly efficiency was different with the different WR value for sericin/gelatin, and it had the maximum value of 68.2% when the weight ratio of sericin to gelatin is at 1 : 1. As a consequence, subsequent studies will be carried out based on the complex micelles prepared on the WR of sericin to gelatin at 1 : 1.

Figure 1: Assembly efficiency of the sericin/gelatin complex micelles prepared on the different weight ratio (WR).

3.2. Morphology and Structure of the Complex Nanomicelles

The morphology of the complex micelles was observed by scanning electron microscopy. It can be seen from Figure 2(a) that the complex micelles exhibited a special spindle shape. Micelles were generally 30–90 nm in width and varied from 40 to 130 nm in length. The sericin micelles exhibited near-spherical morphology and had diameters of 20 to 70 nm in Figure 2(b). No images were acquired for gelatin micelles because of their high hydrophilicity.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: SEM images of the sericin/gelatin nanomicelles (a) and sericin micelles (b). The micelles were diluted 500-fold.

Figure 3 was the image acquired by atomic force microscopy for the complex micelles. From this figure we can see that the complex micelles were spindle-shaped, with a width about 25–80 nm and length about 50–150 nm. Figure 4 showed the high-resolution observation result for the single spindle complex micelles by field emission transmission electron microscopy. It can be seen that the complex nanomicelle was fusiform and the tip of the micelle had an opening. The complex nanomicelles exhibited a core-shell structure. The core is larger and the shell is relatively thinner and had a potential application for the pulmonary delivery system.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: AFM images of the sericin/gelatin nanomicelles.

Figure 4: TEM images of the single sericin/gelatin nanomicelles.

The molecular weight of the sericin and type A gelatin used was determined by gel permeation chromatography. The results were shown in Table 1. Sericin has an average molecular weight of 5789 Da and the polydispersity was 1.376. Type A gelatin has an average molecular weight of 78864 Da and the polydispersity was 1.631. The results showed that the distribution range for molecular weight of sericin and type A gelatin was relatively narrow. The molecular weights for these two proteins were large enough to acquire the primitive assembly capacity.

Table 1: Molecular weight of the sericin and type A gelatin component.

Polydisperity

Sericin
4208
5789
3244
2845
1.376

Type A gelatin
78864
128664
102915
85655
1.631

Note. represents number average molecular weight, represents average molecular weight, represents -average molecular weight, and represents peak molecular weight.

3.3. Zeta-Potential of the Complex Nanomicelles

The values of zeta-potential for complex micelles at different pH were measured by using a Malvern particle size analyzer. The results were shown in Figure 5. It can be found that the zeta-potential of the micelles decreased from −40.1 mV to −54.37 mV when the pH of the solution system increased from 6.5 to 11.5. This indicated that the complex micelles system was more stable, and it became more stable with the decreasing value of pH.

Figure 5: Zeta-potential of the complex micelles in different pH.

Figure 6 showed the variations of zeta-potential value of the composite micelles at the range of 30–70°C. It can be seen that the value of the zeta-potential of the micelles solution system increased gradually from −42.25 mV to −38.6 mV when the temperature increased from 30°C to 70°C. The result demonstrated that the micelles solutions system exhibited relatively high stability in high temperature.

Figure 6: Zeta-potential of the complex micelles in different temperature.

3.4. Thermal Performance of the Complex Nanomicelles

The DSC curves of the complex nanomicelles including assembled and unassembled micelles were shown in Figure 7. Peaks 1–4 appeared in the curve of assembled micelles and peaks 5–7 appeared in the curve of unassembled micelles.

Figure 7: DSC thermograms of the sericin/gelatin complex micelles assembled and unassembled.

In the curve of unassembled micelles the wide heat absorption peak P1 (50~170°C) was related to the phase transition of the hydrated sericin/gelatin crystal. The absorption peak P2 (252°C) corresponded to the cleavage of sericin/gelatin crystal. Peak P3 (283°C) was related to the cleavage of salt bonds, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces in unassembled protein. Peak P4 (321°C) was related to the liquefaction and breakdown of sericin and gelatin peptide chains.

In the curve of assembled micelles, the wide heat absorption P1 (50~170°C) split into the two absorption peaks P5 (78°C) and P6 (127°C). This indicated that the structure of the hydrated sericin/gelatin crystal had changed greatly after having been assembled. The peaks of P2, P3, and P4 disappeared and evolved into a higher temperature absorption peak P7 (330°C). This demonstrated that the peptide chains rearranged and the micelles structure changed significantly powered by the salt bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. The assembling effect improved thermal performance of the micelles remarkably.

3.5. Chemical Bonds Variations

Fourier infrared spectrometer analysis was conducted to investigate the chemical bonds variations in Figure 8. A new absorption band appeared at 964 cm⁻¹ after assembling. The absorption in this area was related to the extra vibration of the =C-H bond at conjugated double bond caused by assembling effect in phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine.

Figure 8: FT-IR spectra of the sericin/gelatin complex micelles assembled and unassembled.

3.6. Stability of the Complex Nanomicelles

Complex micelles solutions (0.5%) were diluted 1 time, 10 times, 50 times, and 200 times by deionized water. Their particle size and polydispersity index were measured by Malvern laser particle size analyzer. The results were shown in Figure 9. It can be seen that the particle size ranged from 83 to 112 nm, and the value of polydispersity ranged from 0.518 to 0.632. This indicated that the complex nanomicelles had better antidilution property.

Figure 9: Particle size and polydispersity index of the complex micelles at different dilution times. The left arrow refers the blue line to , and the right arrow refers the red line to the PDI.

The complex micelles were stored at room temperature for 40 days. Their particle size and polydispersity index were measured every 10 days. The results were shown in Figure 10. The results showed that the particle size of the complex nanomicelles ranged from 82 to 108 nm and the value of polydispersity ranged from of 0.505 to 0.645. It demonstrated that the complex nanomicelles had better storage stability.

Figure 10: Particle size and polydispersity index of the complex micelles at different storage times. The left arrow refers the blue line to and the right arrow refers the red line to the PDI.

4. Conclusions

Complex micelles were prepared by sericin ( = 5789) and type A gelatin ( = 128664). The reaction conditions were as follows: mass ratio of sericin to gelatin was 1 : 1, protein solution concentration was 1.5%, assembling temperature was 35°C, and the assembling time was 18 hours. Then the complex micelles were fixed by glutaraldehyde at 25°C for 12 hours. Experiment results showed that the sericin and gelatin can self-assemble into nanospindle micelles in solution. The width of complex sericin/gelatin micelles was 30–90 nm and the length was 30–150 nm. The solution of the sericin/gelatin micelles had a high zeta-potential, and the value increased from −40.1 mV to −54.37 mV in the pH range of 6.5–11.5 and decreased from −42.25 mV to −38.6 mV at the temperature of 30–70°C. The complex sericin/gelatin micelles had stable chemical structure, good thermal performance, dilution stability, and storage stability.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Henan Province Universities Key Research Project (17A540003) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (U140454).

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