Zeta-Potential and Particle Size Analysis of Recombinant Human Amelogenins
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2010
Abstract
The developing enamel matrix is a highly dynamic system mainly composed of the full-length amelogenin and its proteolytic cleavage products. In this study, size, zeta-potential, and the isoelectric points of nanoparticles of the recombinant full-length human amelogenin (rH174) and two proteolytic products (rH163 and rH146) were analyzed by dynamic light-scattering and electrokinetic measurements. We tested the hypothesis that zeta-potential may be used as a control parameter in directing the self-assembly of amelogenins. Extensive aggregation of amelogenin molecules with the particle size reaching about one micron occurred at a mildly acidic to neutral pH, and coincided with the red shift of the internal fluorescence. Zeta-potential was between ± 15 mV in the same pH range, indicating that amelogenin aggregation occurred when surface potentials were minimal. This suggests that electrostatic interactions may be another crucial factor, aside from hydrophobic interaction, in the aggregation and hierarchical assembly of spherical particles of amelogenins into supramolecular structures of a higher order.
Recommended Citation
Uskoković V, Castiglione Z, Cubas P, Zhu L, Li W, Habelitz S. Zeta-potential and particle size analysis of human amelogenins. J Dent Res. 2010;89(2):149-153. doi:10.1177/0022034509354455.
Copyright
The authors
Comments
This article was originally published in Journal of Dental Research, volume 89, issue 2, in 2010. DOI: 10.1177/0022034509354455