Multi-scale structural analysis of xyloglucan colloidal dispersions and hydro-alcoholic gels

• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-020-03004-0
• Publication Date: 2020-01-23T17:04:16Z
• Authors: Clelia Dispenza; Simona Todaro; Maria Antonietta ...; Delia Chillura Ma...; Vincenzo Martorana; Pier Luigi San Bi...; Paola Maffei; Donatella Bulone
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; RHEOLOGY; DYNAMIC LIGHT-SCATTERING; Hydrogels; Self-assembly; Supramolecular structure; 02 engineering and technology; Xyloglucan; 0210 nano-technology; GELATION

Xyloglucans are highly branched, hydroxyl rich polyglucans that for their abundance in nature, biocompatibility, film forming and gelation ability may take a prominent role in the design and fabrication of biomedical devices, including in situ forming scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound dressings and epidermal sensors. The understanding and exploitation of their self-assembly behavior is key for the device performance optimization. A multi-scale analysis, conducted combining small-angle X-ray scattering, both static and dynamic light scattering at large and small angles, and rheological measurements, provides a description of the supramolecular organization of this biopolymer, from the scale of a few nano-meter, to the meso- and macro-scale both in the sol and gel states. Xyloglucan self-assembly is described as multi-step and hierarchical process with different levels of organization.