Exploration of the biomacromolecular interactions of an interpenetrating proteo-saccharide hydrogel network at the mucosal interface

Abstract

The relationship between mucin (MUC) and pectin (PEC) was explored in an attempt to understand the biomacro-molecular interactions that occur at mucosal surfaces when mucus membranes are exposed to PEC-based materials. These interactions were explored through techniques, such as attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, SEM imagery of lyophilized MUC–PEC blends, thermodynamic analysis, rheology investigations, and in silico static lattice atomistic simulations using a molecular mechanics energy relationships (MMER) approach.