Effects of metal ions on the self-assembly of chitosan molecules investigated with atomic force microscopy

ABSTRACT

The effect of different metal ions including K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ at different concentrations on the self-assembly of chitosan molecules deposited on the new cleaved mica sheet was investigated using atomic force microscopy imaging techniques and other affiliated offline analysis methods. Chitosan molecules self-assembled porous film first when combined with K⁺, Na⁺, or Mg²⁺ ions, and then gradually fractured a granular structure with increasing concentration of metal ions. Chitosan molecules would be self-assembled to fibrous structure after adding calcium ions, and grew much thicker and more flat when the concentration increased. The investigations on the effects of metal ions on the self-assembly of chitosan molecules would be useful for food preservation, environmental protection, and pharmaceutical developments and industries.

KEYWORDS:

• Chitosan
• Metal ions
• Self-assembly
• Ultrastructure
• Atomic force microscopy

Introduction

Chitosan is the N-deacetylated product of chitin, where the degree of deacetylation is generally more than 60%. Chitosan is less widespread in biomass, being produced mainly by thermochemical alkaline deacetylation of acetamide group at the C-2 position in the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose (GlcNAc) unit.^[1,2] Chemically, chitosan is a linear polysaccharide containing GlcNAc and 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose (GlcN) units joined by β(1→4) glycosidic bonds.^[3] As an important natural polymer, besides excellent physical and mechanical performance, chitosan has attractive properties like biodegradability, bioactivity, and biocompatibility. Chitosan has received more attention for its wide range of applications in food science, biology, medicine, cosmetics, environmental protection, which contain potential application value. ^[4–9] Accordingly, new patterns are urgent to equip self-assembled structures of chitosan such as nanowires, hydrogels, membranes, and emulsions which could be applied to various fields. ^[10,11]

As a hydrophilic biopolymer, chitosan is a compound with intramolecular hydrogen bond owing to the presence of plenty of free –NH₂ and –OH in each unit, which allows chitosan to have a strong chelating ability with metal ions.^[12–15] Chitosan self-assembled structures are highly desirable for various applications with controllable morphology.^[16] However, very little attention has been paid on the self-assembled structures of chitosan on mica sheet, particularly the effects of local environments which might be very important to control self-assembled structures. In this work, chitosan structures on a mica surface in a controllable fashion were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), which was unlike the previous optical microscopic and kinetic study. A lot of information on the self-assembled structures of chitosan on mica surface was revealed by AFM studies. Through previous researches, it was found that solvents, concentration, pH, and temperature were all key factors for the formation of self-assembled structures of chitosan on mica surface.^[17,18] In this study, the effects of chitosan concentration and metal ions on chitosan filming shape were investigated in detail using AFM, and the film of chitosan molecules had made improvements ultimately. These results are useful for the function relationship study of chitosan and helpful for research and development in products of food preservation, environmental protection, cosmetic, medicine and other aspects.

Materials and methods

Preparation of chitosan solution for AFM imaging

One percent of acetic acid (Guangdong Guanghua Chemical Factory Co., Ltd) at pH 2.8 was used as the solvent to dissolve chitosan (Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd) and chlorate (Chengdu Kelong Chemical Rea gent Factory). To obtain 10 mg/mL chitosan solution, 2 g of chitosan were dissolved in 200 mL 1% acetic acid solution. High concentration of chitosan solution was further diluted to prepare other different concentrations of chitosan solutions. Original 5.0 M chlorate solutions were diluted to different concentrations for further use. All these solutions were stored at 4°C. Then, 10 μl of chitosan solution with different metal ions were deposited onto the freshly cleaved mica sheets of 1.0 × 0.5 cm², respectively. The mica sheets were placed and drought in sealed desiccators at room temperature (15–20°C). Finally, the mica sheets were fixed onto the sample mounting disk with diameter of 12 mm for AFM imaging.

AFM imaging of chitosan assembly

A Multimode-8 AFM (Bruker Co., Santa Barbara, USA) was employed in ScanAsyst mode with ScanAsyst-AIR probes for topology of chitosan assembly at 0.977 Hz. The AFM detected the topography of the sample by using a flexible microcantilever with one end fixed and a nanometer tip on the other end. When the sample was scanned under the tip, the tip–sample interaction causes microcantilever deformation. That was to say, the microcantilever deformation is a direct reflection of the sample–tip interaction. ^[19] Typical height images were collected for the further data analysis.

Data analysis

The offline software NanoScopeAnalysis V1.10 (Bruker Co.) was used to do measurement and statistical analysis with the typical height images. Section profiles, average roughness (Ra), root mean square roughness (Rq), and surface area difference had been collected after a first-order flatten and noisy line erasing to describe the topological change. Then, the data were analyzed using analysis of variance to determine the significant differences among the groups and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All data were expressed as mean ± SD. Analyses were performed using Excel 2010 (Microsoft Co., Redmond, USA) and SPSS22.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA).

Results and analysis

Self-assembly of chitosan in different chitosan concentrations

Typical AFM height images and section profiles of chitosan assembly in different concentrations were shown in Fig. 1. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference were shown in Table 1. It was shown that the morphology of self-assembled chitosan in different concentrations had a significant difference.

Table 1. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference of the chitosan molecular self-assembly in different chitosan concentrations and 0.05 mg/mL chitosan self-assembly in different KCl, NaCl, MgCl₂, and CaCl₂ concentrations.

Cations	Concentration (mg/mL)	Height (nm)	Ra (nm)	Rq (nm)	Surface area difference (%)
—	0.01	3.2 ± 0.3	0.466	0.692	0.105
	0.02	2.9 ± 0.2	0.323	0.544	0.063
	0.05	3.4 ± 0.1	0.896	1.270	0.387
	0.10	1.9 ± 0.1	0.526	0.642	0.209
K^+	0.20	3.8 ± 0.2	0.782	1.140	0.672
	0.50	3.5 ± 0.1	0.722	0.939	0.215
	1.00	3.01 ± 0.03	0.175	0.307	0.206
Na^+	0.20	1.57 ± 0.07	0.324	0.400	0.279
	0.50	1.4 ± 0.2	0.316	0.491	0.120
	1.00	1.2 ± 0.1	0.425	0.598	0.382
Mg^2+	0.20	9.9 ± 0.2	2.150	3.010	0.484
	0.50	1.9 ± 0.2	0.373	0.630	0.154
	1.00	1.5 ± 0.1	0.771	1.480	0.618
Ca^2+	0.20	5.4 ± 0.2	0.693	1.190	0.630
	0.50	4.4 ± 0.2	0.826	1.240	0.417
	1.00	1.6 ± 0.1	0.461	0.538	0.202

Figure 1. Typical AFM height images and section analysis profiles of chitosan self-assembly in different concentrations in 512 × 512 pixels. Scale bar = 1um.

(a) 0.01 mg/mL; (b) 0.02 mg/mL; (c) 0.05 mg/mL; (d) 0.1 mg/mL.

At 0.01 mg/mL, the chitosan molecules self-assembled into small particles: some arranged regularly in ripple, while others gathered into groups with the height of 3.2 ± 0.3 nm, Ra of 0.466 nm, Rq of 0.692 nm, and surface area difference of 0.105% (see Fig. 1a). When the concentration increased slowly to 0.02 mg/mL, chitosan particles formed fine fibers and tiled densely on the mica sheet with the height of 2.9 ± 0.2 nm, Ra of 0.323 nm, Rq of 0.544 nm, and surface area difference of 0.063%, as shown in Fig. 1b. In addition, there are many spherical particles which gathered more closely from 0.01 to 0.02 mg/mL. When increased to 0.05 mg/mL, the molecular chains of chitosan accumulated to short and thick fibers clearly after covering the substrate at the height of 3.4 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.896 nm, Rq of 1.27 nm, and surface area difference of 0.387%, which were much lower than that in other concentrations (see Fig. 1c). As the concentration increased to 0.1 mg/mL, the chitosan fibers covered a dense substrate with the height of 1.9 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.526 nm, Rq of 0.642 nm, and surface area difference of 0.209% (see Fig. 1d). The height of chitosan particles and fibers in different concentrations was reflected in section analysis profiles below the corresponding height images, as shown in Figs.1a–1d.

The intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds played a key role in chain enwinding. The permutation of chitosan membrane molecules varied with concentration. In low concentrations, the molecules were arranged orderly. When the concentration was slightly higher, the molecules were arranged in a disorderly way, which can affect the mechanical strength of the film. If the concentration was too high, the solution of chitosan was glutinous and difficult to deaerate, and the coating was thicker and uneven. If the concentration was too low, the chitosan solution had large flow ability, the film thickness was not uniform, and it was difficult to format and remove the film. ^[20] In addition, there were many spherical particles in Fig. 1, which should be impurity that resulted from chitosan sample itself, or chitosan fragments .There was large difference in height, and white particles caused by large local concentration. It was not suitable for observing the morphological details of the self-assembled chitosan. So, the 0.05 mg/mL chitosan solution was selected to study the impact of metal ions.

Effect of KCl on self-assembly of chitosan molecules

AFM images of chitosan assemblies on mica surface in the presence of various concentration of KCl (0.2, 0.5, 1.0 mg/mL) were shown in Fig. 2. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference were shown in Table 1. In the presence of 0.2 mg/mL KCl, 0.05 mg/mL chitosan assembled porous membrane structure with the height of 3.8 ± 0.2 nm, Ra of 0.782 nm, Rq of 1.14 nm, and surface area difference of 0.672% (see Fig. 2a). With the KCl concentration increased to 0.5 mg/mL, chitosan film splited into large granular structure with the height of 3.5 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.722 nm, Rq of 0.939 nm, and surface area difference of 0.215%, as shown in Fig. 2b. Similar to the previous report, there were large particles of irregular polygonal configuration. At 1.0 mg/mL KCl, large particles were getting into small particles with uniform distribution, and the height was 3.01 ± 0.03 nm, and Ra was 0.175 nm, Rq was 0.307 nm, surface area difference was 0.206% (see Fig. 2c). It was shown that chitosan molecules assembled into the porous membrane on the mica sheet at low concentrations. With the increase of the concentration, the height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference of the chitosan assembly became lower; the membrane splited into larger granular structure; and the larger particles were getting into small particles with uniform distribution at high concentrations. The –NH2, –OH and other groups in the chitosan molecules have coordinated with the metal ions, resulting in the change of the intermolecular interactions of the chitosan, which affects the surface shape of the membrane. K⁺ ions are alkaline metal ions, and their ionic radius is large, the charge is small, and the electronegativity is small. Therefore, the electrostatic attraction between the electron pairs is small when the complexation reaction occurs, and the tendency to form a complex with chitosan is also smaller. But the coordination reactions will still occur, which will affect the self-assembly structure of chitosan.

Figure 2. Typical AFM height images of chitosan self-assembly in KCl solution with different ions concentration in 512 × 512 pixels. Scale bar = 500nm. (a) 0.2 mg/mL; (b) 0.5 mg/mL; (c) 1.0 mg/mL.

Effect of NaCl on self-assembly of chitosan molecules

AFM images of chitosan assemblies on mica surface in the presence of various concentration of NaCl (0.2, 0.5, 1.0 mg/mL) were shown in Fig. 3. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference were shown in Table 1. When 0.2 mg/mL NaCl was added, 0.05 mg/mL chitosan assembled a porous membrane structure that was presented obviously with the height of 1.57 ± 0.07 nm, Ra of 0.324 nm, Rq of 0.400 nm, and surface area difference of 0.279% (see Fig. 3a). The membrane pores which evenly distributed grew in number at 0.5 mg/mL NaCl with the height of 1.4 ± 0.2nm, Ra of 0.316 nm, Rq of 0.491 nm, and surface area difference of 0.120% respectively, as shown in Fig. 3b. When the concentration of NaCl solution increased to 1.0 mg/mL, chitosan film ruptured to form a granular structure with the height of 1.2 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.425 nm, Rq of 0.598 nm, and surface area difference of 0.382%, which were higher than that in other concentrations (see Fig. 3c). It turned out that the amounts of the pores increased with the increase of the concentration, and the porous membrane broke into small particles with uniform distribution at higher concentrations. Na⁺ ions are an alkaline metal ions like K⁺ ions, but their ionic radius is larger than that of potassium ions, so the electrostatic attraction between electron pairs is stronger than that of potassium ions. The self-assembled film formed by sodium ion and chitosan has better roughness and surface area difference than potassium ion in general.

Figure 3. Typical AFM height images of chitosan self-assembly in NaCl solution with different ions concentration in 512 × 512 pixels. Scale bar = 500nm. (a) 0.2 mg/mL; (b) 0.5 mg/mL; (c) 1.0 mg/mL.

Effect of MgCl₂ on self-assembly of chitosan molecules

Typical AFM height images of chitosan assemblies on mica surface in the presence of MgCl₂ in various concentration of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 mg/mL were shown in Fig. 4. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference were shown in Table 1. When 0.05 mg/mL chitosan combined with MgCl₂ at a low concentration, the multilayer film structure was first formed, as shown in Fig. 4a apparently, the height variation graph showed that there were three layers films at least with the height of 9.9 ± 0.2 nm, which was much higher than that in other concentration. And Ra, Rq, surface area difference were 2.15, 3.01 nm and 0.484%, respectively. When the MgCl₂ concentration increased, the multilayer film began to translate into a single-layer film with the numbers of film pore increasing, and the height was 1.9 ± 0.2 nm, Ra was 0.373 nm, Rq was 0.630 nm, and surface area difference was 0.154% (see Fig. 4b). The multilayer film even ruptured in the end with the height of 1.5 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.771 nm, Rq of 1.48 nm, and surface area difference of 0.618% (see Fig. 4c). It indicated that the chitosan molecules assembled into the multilayer film at low concentration. With the increase of the concentration, the number of layers decreased. At the same time, the number of pores increased. Finally, the film ruptured at high concentration. Mg²⁺ belongs to alkaline-earth metal ions, which have small ionic radius and high charge. They are strong electron acceptors and can easily form complexes with chitosan, thus affecting chitosan self-assembly structure.

Figure 4. Typical AFM height images of chitosan self-assembly in MgCl₂ solution with different ions concentration in 512 × 512 pixels. Scale bar = 500nm. (a) 0.2 mg/mL; (b) 0.5 mg/mL; (c) 2.0 mg/mL.

Effect of CaCl₂ on self-assembly of chitosan molecules

AFM images of chitosan assemblies on mica surface in the presence of various concentration of CaCl₂ (0.2, 0.5, 1.0 mg/mL) were shown in Fig. 5. Height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference were shown in Table 1. At 0.2 mg/mL CaCl₂, 0.05 mg/mL chitosan assembled a porous membrane structure with the height of 5.4 ± 0.2 nm, Ra of 0.693 nm, Rq of 1.19 nm, and surface area difference of 0.630%, as shown in Fig. 5a. As was seen obviously, long fibers in the film intertwined with each other inseparably. As the concentration of CaCl₂ increased to 1.5 mg/mL, the thickness of chitosan film increased, the numbers of the pores reduced clearly with fine fibers becoming thicker with the height of 4.4 ± 0.2 nm, Ra of 0.826 nm, Rq of 1.24 nm, and surface area difference of 0.417% (Fig. 5b). At 1.0 mg/mL CaCl₂, crude fibers disappeared; thick film appeared with pores at the height of 1.6 ± 0.1 nm, Ra of 0.461 nm, Rq of 0.538 nm, and surface area difference of 0.202% (Fig. 5c). It concluded that with the concentration increasing, the height, roughness (Ra, Rq), and surface area difference became lower. And the fibers in the film gradually became thicker, and at high concentrations, the fiber became thick and flat membrane with numbers of holes. The calcium ion only complexes with the –NH₂ on the chitosan molecule, but since the chitosan solution is acidic and the amino group exists in the form of NH₃⁺, the coordination ability of the chitosan to the calcium ion is greatly reduced. This results in the effect of calcium ions on the self-assembly structure of chitosan showing different rules from other metal ions.

Figure 5. Typical AFM height images of chitosan self-assembly in CaCl₂ solution with different ions concentration in 512 × 512 pixels. Scale bar = 500 nm. (a) 0.2 mg/mL; (b) 0.5 mg/mL; (c) 1.0 mg/mL.

Conclusion

The studies on the morphology of chitosan self-assembly in the presence of four metal cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) by AFM can lead to the following conclusions. Compared to single chitosan self-assembly, chitosan assembled on mica surface in the presence of four metal cation tends to cross-link and gather into film more easily. However, there are some differences in the effect of different metal ions on the self-assembly of chitosan molecules. Combined with K⁺, Na⁺, or Mg²⁺, chitosan molecular self-assembled porous film, and with concentration increasing, the film thickness and the numbers of hole became smaller, and then membrane structure gradually fractured into pieces, and eventually became a granular structure. Chitosan molecules self-assembled porous membrane after adding calcium ions, and the numbers of hole increased with concentration increasing. The complex between metal ions and chitosan self-assembly is beneficial to chitosan film; this study might show new light on the formation of chitosan film. It will be helpful to study the characteristics of chitosan self-assembly which could provide theoretical guidance and data supports in food preservation, environmental protection, and medicine materials.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by Key Research and Development Plan of Shaanxi Province (2018NY-110, JZ), National Natural Science Foundation of China (11202170, JZ), College Students' Innovation Training Program of Shaanxi Province (201803149, SF), College Students' Innovation Training Program of Northwest A&F University (1201710712146, WK).