Interfacial insights: [6]-Gingerol monolayers at the air-water interface and beyond
Lara Adwan,
Laura Dotor,
María Graciela Pino,
Adriana Gil,
Santiago Martin,
Pilar Cea
Affiliations
Lara Adwan
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
Laura Dotor
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
María Graciela Pino
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
Adriana Gil
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
Santiago Martin
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain
Pilar Cea
Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain; Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain; Corresponding author. Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
Ginger is a culinary spice with a millennia-old tradition due to its extensive therapeutic applications, recently validated by scientific studies. In particular [6]-Gingerol, a key active molecule in ginger, exhibits extraordinary capabilities in addressing a wide spectrum of health issues. However, its therapeutic potential is limited by its rather low bioavailability. The incorporation of [6]-Gingerol into membrane systems of liposomes, micelles, or exosomes is a promising strategy to overcome this limitation. In this contribution, we report the hitherto unexplored surface properties of [6]-Gingerol at the air-water interface. Our comprehensive study, which includes a detailed analysis of surface pressure and surface potential vs. area per molecule isotherms, surface compression modulus, and Brewster Angle Microscopy, demonstrates the capability of [6]-Gingerol to form Langmuir films. These films can be transferred onto solid substrates, forming remarkably homogeneous Langmuir-Blodgett films which have been characterized by Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Atomic Force Microscopy. This study may be of interest as it paves the way for future research on introducing [6]-Gingerol into membrane systems and transporting it into living cells.
