A Selective Mucin/Methylcellulose Hybrid Gel with Tailored Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Mucin glycoproteins are key components of native mucus which serves as an initial barrier in the human body against microbial attack. Mucins are able to prevent bacterial adhesion and can trap viruses. However, the weak mechanical properties of mucin solutions have so far prevented their application in a physiological environment. Here, methylcellulose biopolymers are used as mechanical adjuvants to overcome this limitation and generate a thermoresponsive mucin/methylcellulose hybrid system. The hybrid material developed combines the selective permeability properties brought about by mucins with the thermal autogelation properties of methylcellulose. As a consequence, triggered by contact with body‐warm surfaces, the hybrid material rapidly forms a gel at physiological conditions, and this external temperature stimulus can also be harnessed to stimulate drug release from incorporated thermosensitive liposomes. Finally, the hybrid gel selectively retards the release of embedded molecules which can be used to further control and prolong drug release from the material.

Macromolecular Coating Enables Tunable Selectivity in a Porous PDMS Matrix

“…In the central part of the molecule, the mucin glycoprotein comprises densely glycosylated regions, and several carbohydrates found in this region (such as sialic acid or sulfated sugar residues) possess a strongly anionic character. [31] Consistently, mucins have been previously reported to bind cationic particles and molecules, [32][33][34][35][36] and we expect that a mucin coating will allow our filter to selectively remove cationic particles or molecules by electrostatic forces.…”

Mucins as multifunctional building blocks of biomaterials

“…The hydrophilicity and negative charge of mucins were also used by Nowald et al who mixed pig gastric mucins with methylcellulose to create thermo-sensitive selfstanding hydrogels that bound to positively charged molecules. 93 By removing some of the pig gastric mucin glycosylation, Fukui et al were able to generate nanoparticles that could incorporate positively charged antibacterial lysozyme enzymes. 94 The particles degraded over time and released their content, due to the proteolytic action of the encapsulated lysozyme.…”

Methyl cellulose/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite fibers with high ductility

“…[3][4][5] Therein, MC acts as an emulsifier, viscosity controller, and mechanical adjuvant for composite systems. [6] It has been shown that 2.49 wt% of MC having molecular weight of 310 kDa and a degree of substitution of 1.8 display lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 29 ± 2 o C, below which Newtonian flow is observed and above which non-Newtonian flow and increased viscosity emerge. [7] The aqueous dispersions exhibit thermosensitive hydrogelation.…”