Lyotropic phase behaviour of dilute, aqueous hen lysozyme amyloid fibril dispersions

Abstract

We explore the lyotropic phase behaviour of dilute, aqueous amyloid fibril dispersions from hen egg white lysozyme with respect to protein and acid concentration in order to establish preparation protocols that provide homogeneous nematic phases. Such ordered dispersions are demonstrated to facilitate alignment of amyloid nanofibrils in thin solid films, which are utilised to structure conjugated (poly)electrolytes. In addition, the occurrence of ordered phases is found to be in good qualitative agreement with phase equilibria predicted for dispersions of rod-like particles. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.