Work

Self-assembly induced patterning of biomimetic fatty acid monolayers reveals their protective role on hair

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Branched fatty acids, such as those found on the surface of hair and wool, have recently been shown to form novel 3D self-assembly curvature structures at the air–water interface—nanocaps. On the hair surface, the branched fatty acid 18-methyleicosanoic acid (18-MEA) is expressed together with shorter, unbranched, straight chain fatty acids to form a protective palisade layer. The biological function of the chain length differences was hitherto unknown. Using a combination of atomic force microscopy and Langmuir isotherms, a safe, versatile route for tuneable nanopatterning of solid surfaces is demonstrated, via fatty acid interfacial nanocap deposition from biomimetic mixtures. Further, it is shown that chain length dependence of the interaction with the branched chain is exquisitely sensitive, leading to profoundly different morphologies in the self-assembly structures. The vastly enhanced properties of the mixed films compared to the individual components alone reveals the biological origin of the hair surface composition.

Source: Surfaces and Interfaces

DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.106283

Authors: Erik Bergendal, Marine Batista, Gustavo S. Luengo, Mark W. Rutland

Institutions: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, École Centrale de Lyon, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, UNSW Sydney, Laboratoire de Tribologie et Dynamique des Systèmes

Language: English

Topic: Surfactants and Colloidal Systems

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,670

Funders: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Vetenskapsrådet, Erasmus+