On the importance of chain branching in tear film lipid layer wax and cholesteryl esters

• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112429
• Publication Date: 2022-02-25T16:31:08Z
• Authors: Tuomo Viitaja; Jan-Erik Raitanen; Antti Hynynen; Jukka Moilanen; Kirsi Svedström; Riku O. Paananen; Filip S. Ekholm
• Keywords: Branching (polymer chemistry); Wax ester; Long chain

The tear film lipid layer (TFLL) is important to the maintenance of ocular surface health. Surprisingly, information on individual roles myriad unique lipids found therein limited. most abundant species are wax esters (WE) and cholesteryl (CE), and, especially their branched analogs. isolation these from TFLL has proved be tedious, as a result, insights biophysical profiles role in currently lacking. Herein, we circumvent issues by total synthesis iso-methyl WEs CEs TFLL. Through detailed characterization properties, use Langmuir monolayer wide-angle X-ray scattering techniques, demonstrate that chain branching alters behavior multiple levels. Taken together, our results fill an knowledge gap concerning structure function whole.