Measuring Zeta Potential of M-Cells in Mucosal Epithelia Abstract Specialized microfold cells (M-cells) play an important role in transport of antigens across the mucosal lymphoid tissues to initiate an immune response. Understanding the mechanism by which M-cells bind antigens can provide insight to mucosal vaccination methods. Previous research has shown that surface charge of bacteria and potential delivery vehicles appears to play a significant role in M-cell selection. Thus, measuring electrostatic and zeta potential at the surface of shear between tissue and bacterial interaction remains as a main goal of our research studies. In this research, the streaming potential of M- cells cultured on membrane surfaces was determined. A streaming potential device was modified and tested to accommodate the membranes. The device was tested known samples consisting of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) adsorbed on composite regenerated cellulose (CRC) or polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with a molecular weight cutoff of 30 kDa. Then zeta potential was calculated by Helmholtz-Smoluchowski equation. Nilufer Nurinova a, David Lo b and Victor G. J. Rodgers b a Mathematics & CS Department, Tennessee Technological University b Bioengineering and Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside Mucosal M-Cell TargetingPeyer’s Patch M-Cells Images courtesy of David Lo Membranes Used for Electrostatic Potential Test Composite Regenerated Cellulose Membrane (CRC) Surface properties Not charged Unaffected by pH Polyethersulfone (PES) Surface properties Negatively charged at most pH conditions Schematic diagram of the device for streaming potential test [1] Protein coated CRC and PES membranes were created by soaking in BSA solutions overnight Non-protein coated CRC and PES membranes were created by soaking in nanopure water overnight Each membrane was put into the device to test for the streaming potential using 0.15M NaCl with varying pH The changing streaming potential (ΔΨ) was recorded for varying hydraulic pressures (ΔP) Zeta potential (ζ) was calculated by Helmholtz- Smoluchowski equation [2] ε 0 - Permittivity of free space ε r - Relative dielectric constant of the solvent µ - Viscosity of the solution Λ 0 - Conductivity of the electrolyte solution Acknowledgements Zeta Potential Results of Protein Coated CRC and PES Membranes Conclusions and Future Work MembraneCoatingZeta Potential (mV) - pH 7.0 CRCBSA+NaCl CRCBSA+H2O PESBSA+NaCl PESBSA+H2O Membraneζ-potential (mV) - pH 4.7 ζ -potential (mV) - pH 10.0 CRC PES Our results for electrostatic potential test and calculated zeta potential values of protein coated membranes showed that varying pH conditions indeed affect the ionic binding and the electrostatic potential distribution. Future agenda of this research will involve modifying and integrating the streaming potential device and methods in order to test zeta potential values of cultured intestinal mucosal epithelia. NSF Dr. V.G.J. Rodgers Dr. D.Lo B2K Group, especially Devin McBride BRITE REU 2009 Personnel [1] [1] Wang, Yiheng, Thesis, 2008 [2] Nystrom et al. E.Streaming Potential as a tool in the characterization of ultrafiltration membranes. Colloids and Surfaces 1989, 36,