New Materials Based on Molecular Interaction between Hyaluronic Acid and Bovine Albumin

Abstract

In this work, the interactions between hyaluronic acid and bovine serum albumin were investigated. The film-forming properties of the mixture were proven, and the mechanical and surface properties of the films were measured. The results showed the interactions between hyaluronic acid and albumin, mainly by hydrogen bonds. Molecular docking was used for the visualization of the interactions. The films obtained from the mixture of hyaluronic acid possessed different properties to films obtained from the single component. The addition of bovine serum albumin to hyaluronic acid led to a decrease in the mechanical properties, and to an increase in the surface roughness of the film. The new materials that have been obtained by blending can form a new group of materials for biomedicine and cosmetology.

Keywords: biomaterials; bovine albumin; hyaluronic acid; molecular interaction.

Figure 1

IR spectrum of high-, low-, and ultralow molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

Figure 2

IR spectrum of the film obtained from 1% solution of BSA.

Figure 3

IR spectrum of the film obtained from the mixtures of high-, low-, and ultralow-molecular-weight HA with 1% solution of BSA.

Figure 4

AFM visualization of the surface of film obtained from the solution of 1.5% high-molecular HA.

Figure 5

AFM visualization of the surface of film obtained from the solution of 1.5% low-molecular HA.

Figure 6

AFM visualization of the surface of film obtained from the solution of 1.5% ultralow-molecular HA.

Figure 7

AFM visualization of the surface of film obtained from the solution of 1.5% high-molecular HA with 1% BSA.

Figure 8

AFM visualization of the surface of film obtained from the solution of 1.5% low-molecular HA with 1% BSA.

Figure 9

Visualization of BSA–HA complex obtained from docking. BSA is represented in ribbon-like structure, whereas HA is shown as stick model.

Figure 10

Visualization of hydrogen bonds (yellow dotted lines) inside the BSA–HA complex. Black circles and amino acids forming hydrogen bonds have been added for better visualization.