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Thermal Aggregation of Methyl Cellulose in Aqueous Solution: A Thermodynamic Study and Protein Partitioning Behaviour

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Abstract

The formation of a biphasic system from aqueous solutions of methyl cellulose induced by temperature was studied through heating curves of the polymer solution measured by absorbance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and solution viscosimetry. The treatment of the heating curve data according to a reversible two-state transition model allows us to calculate the middle point temperature (Tm) of the formation of the two phases and the thermodynamic functions associated to the polymer aggregation. The middle point temperature was found within the range 50–70 °C. It decreased significantly in a Na2SO4 0.3 M medium when the polymer concentration increased. The heat associated to the two-phase formation was positive and it increased with increases in temperature. Cosolutes that affect the water structure induced changes in the Tm values, which suggests the presence of a hydrophobic effect in the two-phase formation from the polymer solution. Hydrophilic proteins were partitioned in favour of the methyl cellulose rich phase according to their surface hydrophobicity. The partition was also influenced by the presence of salts that modify the protein hydrophobicity such as sodium sulphate.

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Abbreviations

ANS:

1-aniline-8-naphthalene sulfonate

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

GnCl:

guanidine chloride

LZ:

lysozyme

MC:

methyl cellulose

MW:

average molecular weight

OVO:

ovoalbumin

P:

polymer

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Chemistry Department. Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National University of Rosario, FonCyT, CIUNR and CONICET, Suipacha 570, Rosario, S2002RLK, Argentina

    Dario Spelzini, Ruben Rigatusso, Beatriz Farruggia & Guillermo Picó

Authors
  1. Dario Spelzini
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  2. Ruben Rigatusso
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  3. Beatriz Farruggia
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  4. Guillermo Picó
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Correspondence to Guillermo Picó.

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Spelzini, D., Rigatusso, R., Farruggia, B. et al. Thermal Aggregation of Methyl Cellulose in Aqueous Solution: A Thermodynamic Study and Protein Partitioning Behaviour. Cellulose 12, 293–304 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-004-5865-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-004-5865-2

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