Matsuoka K, et al. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, 2013, 172-173.
Sodium hyodeoxycholate (NaHDC) as a biosurfactant is characterised by an amphiphilic structure of the molecule.NaHDC can form small micelles greater than 5 mM in aqueous solution.
Micelle Formation and Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC)
The formation of micelles by NaHDC was investigated at 308.2 K using a pyrene fluorescence probe to determine the CMC at varying NaCl concentrations. The analysis revealed a two-step aggregation process:
Initial Micelle Formation: The first step involves the formation of small micelles at a concentration of 5 mM.
Stable Aggregate Formation: The second step results in the formation of stable aggregates at 14 mM in an aqueous solution.
Aggregation Behavior: The aggregation number of NaHDC, studied through a stepwise association model, increased from 4 to 7 with rising concentration. This growth in aggregation was confirmed by static light scattering methods, which measured an average aggregation number of 6.7. Despite the relatively small size of these micelles, they fall within the general range of aggregation numbers for human bile salts.
Counterion Binding: The degree of counterion binding to NaHDC micelles was determined using a sodium ion-selective electrode, revealing a binding value of approximately 0.5. This binding degree is notably high among typical bile salts, indicating a significant interaction between the sodium ions and NaHDC micelles.
Solubilization Capacity: The solubilization capacity of NaHDC micelles was assessed using cholesterol as the solubilizate. It was found that NaHDC micelles have a limited capacity to solubilize cholesterol compared to typical human bile salts. The maximum solubilization capacity of NaHDC was equivalent only to that of sodium ursodeoxycholate, highlighting its relatively lower efficacy in solubilizing cholesterol.
Conclusion: NaHDC exhibits unique micellization and aggregation properties distinct from typical human bile salts. Its high degree of counterion binding and limited cholesterol solubilization capacity suggest specialized applications in the absorption and solubilization of sparingly soluble materials within the intestinal tract. Further research into its structural characteristics and interaction with other compounds could unlock new insights into its potential applications in pharmaceuticals and other industries.