Xu, F orcid.org/0000-0002-2148-2059, Liamas, E orcid.org/0000-0001-9294-6343, Bryant, M orcid.org/0000-0003-4442-5169 et al. (6 more authors) (2020) A Self‐Assembled Binary Protein Model Explains High‐Performance Salivary Lubrication from Macro to Nanoscale. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 7 (1). 1901549. ISSN 2196-7350
Abstract
Salivary pellicle, a spontaneously formed, intricate architecture in the human oral cavity, is a high‐performance bio‐lubricant that coats and protects biological surfaces with varying elastic modulus against frictional damage. Although salivary lubrication underpins the fundamentals of human feeding and speech, the peculiar molecular mechanism behind such lubrication properties remains elusive. For the first time, this work demonstrates a binary model comprised of salivary proteins, mucin, and lactoferrin (LF), forming an electrostatically driven, multilayered self‐assembly that exhibits a lubrication behavior closely resembling that of human saliva, from macro to nanoscale. The multiscale tribological analysis with applied forces ranging from 1 N to 1 nN, supported by real‐time self‐assembly monitoring on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates differentially resolves the distinct roles played by the salivary proteins of this proposed lubricating model. Evidences reveal that hydrated mucin controls the macromolecular viscous lubrication entrapping water molecules in the mucinous network and LF acts as a “molecular glue” between mucin–mucin and mucin–surface, latter aiding boundary lubrication. This study puts forward an unprecedented molecular model that explains the synergistic lubrication by salivary components. These results can aid into the design routes for synthesizing highly efficacious nature‐inspired aqueous lubricants for future biomedical applications and nutritional technologies.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
Keywords: | aqueous lubrication; mucin; multilayer; nanografting; self‐assembly |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Mechanical Engineering (Leeds) > Institute of Functional Surfaces (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Food Science and Nutrition (Leeds) > FSN Chemistry and Biochemistry (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Food Science and Nutrition (Leeds) > FSN Colloids and Food Processing (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 29 Oct 2019 10:22 |
Last Modified: | 18 Dec 2024 10:26 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1002/admi.201901549 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:152697 |
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