pH-dependent Interaction Research Articles

Supramolecular Hydrogel Formation in a Series of Self-Assembling Lipopeptides with Varying Lipid Chain Length.

The self-assembly in aqueous solution of three lipopeptides comprising a bioactive motif conjugated at the N terminus to dodecyl, tetradecyl or hexadecyl lipid chains has been examined. The bioactive motif is the peptide block YEALRVANEVTLN; a C-terminal fragment of the lumican proteoglycan. This study was motivated by our previous studies on the hexadecyl homologue C16-YEALRVANEVTLN, which showed aggregation into β-sheet structures above a critical aggregation concentration (cac), but most remarkably, we found that these aggregates were stable to dilution below the cac.1 Here we find that the C12- and C14-homologues also self-assemble above a cac into β-sheet nanotapes based on bilayer packing. The cac decreases with increasing lipopeptide hydrophobicity. Unexpectedly, the β-sheet secondary structure is present upon dilution and the aggregates are thermally stable. These results indicate that the dilution trapping of β-sheet secondary structure is not associated with lipid chain melting behavior. Instead, we associate it with pH-dependent favorable intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Investigation of the pH-dependence of aggregation led to the discovery of conditions for formation of lipopeptide hydrogels (initial sample preparation at pH 10 in NaOH solution, followed by reduction to pH ∼ 1 by addition of HCl). The lipopeptide hydrogels comprise networks of bilayer-based peptide nanotape bundles and to our knowledge this type of hydrogel is unprecedented. These hydrogels may have future applications based on processes such as encapsulation and release that involve fast switches between solution and hydrogel nanostructures.

A computational assessment of pH-dependent differential interaction of T7 lysozyme with T7 RNA polymerase

BackgroundT7 lysozyme (T7L), also known as N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, is a T7 bacteriophage gene product. It involves two functions: It can cut amide bonds in the bacterial cell wall and interacts with T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) as a part of transcription inhibition. In this study, with the help of molecular dynamics (MD) calculations and computational interaction studies, we investigated the effect of varying pH conditions on conformational flexibilities of T7L and their influence on T7RNAP -T7L interactions.ResultsFrom the MD studies of the T7L at three different pH strengths viz. 5, neutral and 7.9 it was observed that T7L structure at pH 5 exhibited less stable nature with more residue level fluctuations, decrease of secondary structural elements and less compactness as compared to its counterparts: neutral pH and pH 7.9. The T-pad analysis of the MD trajectories identified local fluctuations in few residues that influenced the conformational differences in three pH strengths. From the docking of the minimum energy representative structures of T7L at different pH strengths (obtained from the free energy landscape analysis) with T7RNAP structures at same pH strengths, we saw strong interaction patterns at pH 7.9 and pH 5. The MD analysis of these complexes also confirmed the observations of docking study. From the combined in silico studies, it was observed that there are conformational changes in N-terminal and near helix 1 of T7L at different pH strengths, which are involved in the T7RNAP interaction, thereby varying the interaction pattern.ConclusionSince T7L has been used for developing novel therapeutics and T7RNAP one of the most biologically useful protein in both in-vitro and in vivo experiments, this in silico study of pH dependent conformational differences in T7L and the differential interaction with T7RNAP at different pH can provide a significant insight into the structural investigations on T7L and T7RNAP in varying pH environments.

The pH dependent interaction between nicotine and simulated pulmonary surfactant monolayers with associated molecular modelling

Pulmonary surfactant is an endogenous material that lines and stabilises the alveolar air–liquid interface. Respiratory mechanics can be compromised by exposure to environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, which contains nicotine. This study aims to determine the influence of nicotine on the activity of simulated lung surfactant at pH 7 and pH 9. In all cases, the addition of nicotine to the test zone caused deviation in surfactant film performance. Importantly, the maximum surface pressure was reduced for each system. Computational modelling was applied to assess key interactions between each species, with the Gaussian 09 software platform used to calculate electrostatic potential surfaces. Modelling data confirmed either nicotine penetration into the two‐dimensional structure or interfacial/electrostatic interactions across the underside. The results obtained from this study suggest that nicotine can impair the ability of pulmonary surfactant to reduce the surface tension term, which can increase the work of breathing. When extrapolated to gross lung function, alveolar collapse and respiratory disease (e.g. chronic airway obstruction) may result. The delivery of nicotine to the (deep) lung can cause a deterioration in lung function and lead to reduced quality of life. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An investigation into the colloidal stability of graphene oxide nano-layers in alite paste

Recent studies have reported that graphene oxide (GO) is capable of enhancing the mechanical properties of hardened Portland cement (PC) pastes. The mechanisms proposed so far to explain this strengthening generally assume that GO is well dispersed in the pore solution of PC paste, serving as a reinforcing agent or nucleation-growth site during hydration. This paper investigates (i) the effect of GO on the hydration of alite, the main constituent of PC cement, using isothermal calorimetry and boundary nucleation-growth modelling, and (ii) the factors controlling the colloidal stability of GO in alite paste environment. Results indicate that GO accelerates the hydration of alite only marginally, and that GO is susceptible to aggregation in alite paste. This instability is due to (i) a pH-dependent interaction between GO and calcium cations in the pore solution of alite paste, and (ii) a significant reduction of GO functional groups at high pH.

Probing Temperature- and pH-Dependent Binding between Quantum Dots and Bovine Serum Albumin by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) with unique optical properties have potential applications in bio-imaging. The interaction between QDs and bio-molecules is important to the biological effect of QDs in vivo. In this paper, we have employed fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to probe the temperature- and pH-dependent interactions between CdSe QDs with carboxyl (QDs-COOH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in buffer solutions. The results have shown that microscopic dissociation constant K′D is in the range of (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10−5 to (8.6 ± 0.1) × 10−7 M, the Hill coefficient n is from 0.4 to 2.3, and the protein corona thickness is from 3.0 to 9.4 nm. Variable-temperature measurements have shown both negative values of ∆H and ∆S for BSA adsorption on QDs-COOH, while pH has a profound effect on the adsorption. Additional, FCS measurement QDs-COOH and proteins in whole mice serum and plasma samples has also been conducted. Finally, simulation results have shown four favored QD binding sites in BSA.

Adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol on paper sludge/wheat husk biochar: Process optimization and comparison with biochars prepared from wood chips, sewage sludge and hog fuel/demolition waste

The adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol, a toxic by-product of triclosan commonly found in wastewater treatment plant effluents, was studied on paper sludge/wheat husks biochar. By using response surface methodology, the optimum conditions and effects of pH, temperature, initial 2,4-DCP concentration and time were determined. The solution pH was found to be the most influential parameter whereas the optimum adsorption conditions were predicted as: C0=40.28mgL−1, T=326K, pH=2.8, t=143min, where a 99.95% adsorption could be achieved. Both Langmuir and Freundlich provided a good fit for the experimental data, indicating a surface and multi-layer adsorption. Kinetically, the process primarily followed the pseudo-second order model (chemisorption). By comparing the adsorption capacity at equilibrium of our main biochar (qe=9.28mgg−1) to 3 biochars prepared from different biomasses (qe values 1.57–2.96mgg−1), it was concluded that pH-dependent electrostatic interactions and non-covalent π-electron donor-acceptor mechanisms play the most important role. Finally, there was indication that high concentrations of Ca and K may promote the adsorbate-adsorbent interactions and enhance adsorption.

Long lasting neutralization of C5 by SKY59, a novel recycling antibody, is a potential therapy for complement-mediated diseases

Dysregulation of the complement system is linked to the pathogenesis of a variety of hematological disorders. Eculizumab, an anti-complement C5 monoclonal antibody, is the current standard of care for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). However, because of high levels of C5 in plasma, eculizumab has to be administered biweekly by intravenous infusion. By applying recycling technology through pH-dependent binding to C5, we generated a novel humanized antibody against C5, SKY59, which has long-lasting neutralization of C5. In cynomolgus monkeys, SKY59 suppressed C5 function and complement activity for a significantly longer duration compared to a conventional antibody. Furthermore, epitope mapping by X-ray crystal structure analysis showed that a histidine cluster located on C5 is crucial for the pH-dependent interaction with SKY59. This indicates that the recycling effect of SKY59 is driven by a novel mechanism of interaction with its antigen and is distinct from other known pH-dependent antibodies. Finally, SKY59 showed neutralizing effect on C5 variant p.Arg885His, while eculizumab does not inhibit complement activity in patients carrying this mutation. Collectively, these results suggest that SKY59 is a promising new anti-C5 agent for patients with PNH and other complement-mediated disorders.

Interfacially crosslinked composite porous membranes for ultrafast removal of anionic dyes from water through permeating adsorption

The dye wastewater is one of the most difficult industrial wastewaters to treat. It keeps a big challenge to realize fast removal of dyes from water by membrane filtration due to the trade-off between separation selectivity and permeation flux for ultrafiltration or nanofiltration (NF) process. Here we report novel composite porous membranes which can remove anionic dyes from water by ultrafast permeating adsorption. A crosslinked polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymer with strong adsorption ability was incorporated onto a nylon microfiltration membrane by the interfacial amidation reaction between PEI and trimesoyl chloride. The obtained composite membranes were used for the decolorization of dye solution by permeation mode. It was shown that the composite membranes were able to nearly completely remove anionic dyes in acidic conditions with high permeation fluxes. In an optimized case, the adsorption capacity of Sunset Yellow for the composite membranes reached 0.7mg/cm2 with a high flux of 85L/m2h under a ultralow pressure of 0.01bar. This flux was far much higher than that of NF membranes, about 10L/m2hbar. The pH-dependent electrostatic interaction between PEI and anionic dyes was responsible for the rapid dye removal. The adsorption saturated membranes could be effectively regenerated by a simple alkaline washing.

Graphitic carbon nitride as electrode sensing material for tetrabromobisphenol-A determination

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a green and cost-efficient semiconductor, is considered to be inconveniently applied in the field of electrochemistry due to its bad electrochemical activity. In this study, g-C3N4 was found to enhance the electrochemical response of tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA) at glassy carbon electrode and then employed as a sensing material for further sensitive determination. The active mechanism, the discrepant electrochemical properties of the obtained g-C3N4 products and the pH-dependent interaction between g-C3N4 and TBBPA during the analysis process were investigated. For the investigation, g-C3N4 was synthesized at different temperatures and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, the electrochemical properties of g-C3N4 after electrode modification were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronocoulometry. Finally, TBBPA was quantified with the modified electrode in the range of 0.02μM–1μM with a detection limit of 5nM. The presented properties of the modified electrode also enable its application in environmental samples detection.

A Two-pronged Binding Mechanism of IgG to the Neonatal Fc Receptor Controls Complex Stability and IgG Serum Half-life

The success of recombinant monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG) is rooted in their ability to target distinct antigens with high affinity combined with an extraordinarily long serum half-life, typically around 3 weeks. The pharmacokinetics of IgGs is intimately linked to the recycling mechanism of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). For long serum half-life of therapeutic IgGs, the highly pH-dependent interaction with FcRn needs to be balanced to allow efficient FcRn binding and release at slightly acidic pH and physiological pH, respectively. Some IgGs, like the antibody briakinumab has an unusually short half-life of ∼8 days. Here we dissect the molecular origins of excessive FcRn binding in therapeutic IgGs using a combination of hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and FcRn affinity chromatography. We provide experimental evidence for a two-pronged IgG-FcRn binding mechanism involving direct FcRn interactions with both the Fc region and the Fab regions of briakinumab, and correlate the occurrence of excessive FcRn binding to an unusually strong Fab-FcRn interaction.

Structure and Interaction in the pH-Dependent Phase Behavior of Nanoparticle–Protein Systems

The pH-dependent structure and interaction of anionic silica nanoparticles (diameter 18 nm) with two globular model proteins, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA), have been studied. Cationic lysozyme adsorbs strongly on the nanoparticles, and the adsorption follows exponential growth as a function of lysozyme concentration, where the saturation value increases as pH approaches the isoelectric point (IEP) of lysozyme. By contrast, irrespective of pH, anionic BSA does not show any adsorption. Despite having a different nature of interactions, both proteins render a similar phase behavior where nanoparticle-protein systems transform from being one-phase (clear) to two-phase (turbid) above a critical protein concentration (CPC). The measurements have been carried out for a fixed concentration of silica nanoparticles (1 wt %) with varying protein concentrations (0-5 wt %). The CPC is found to be much higher for BSA than for lysozyme and increases for lysozyme but decreases for BSA as pH approaches their respective IEPs. The structure and interaction in these systems have been examined using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The effective hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles measured using DLS increases with protein concentration and is related to the aggregation of the nanoparticles above the CPC. The propensity of the nanoparticles to aggregate is suppressed for lysozyme and enhanced for BSA as pH approached their respective IEPs. This behavior is understood from SANS data through the interaction potential determined by the interplay of electrostatic repulsion with a short-range attraction for lysozyme and long-range attraction for BSA. The nanoparticle aggregation is caused by charge neutralization by the oppositely charged lysozyme and through depletion for similarly charged BSA. Lysozyme-mediated attractive interaction decreases as pH approaches the IEP because of a decrease in the charge on the protein. In the case of BSA, a decrease in the BSA-BSA repulsion enhances the depletion attraction between the nanoparticles as pH is shifted toward the IEP. The morphology of the nanoparticle aggregates is found to be mass fractal.

A pH-responsive wormlike micellar system of a noncovalent interaction-based surfactant with a tunable molecular structure.

Responsive wormlike micelles are very useful in a number of applications, whereas it is still challenging to create dramatic viscosity changes in wormlike micellar systems. Here we developed a pH-responsive wormlike micellar system based on a noncovalent constructed surfactant, which is formed by the complexation of N-erucamidopropyl-N,N-dimethylamine (UC22AMPM) and citric acid at the molar ratio of 3 : 1 (EACA). The phase behavior, aggregate microstructure and viscoelasticity of EACA solutions were investigated by macroscopic appearance observation, rheological and cryo-TEM measurements. It was found that the phase behavior of EACA solutions undergoes transition from transparent viscoelastic fluids to opalescent solutions and then phase separation with white floaters upon increasing the pH. Upon increasing the pH from 2.03 to 6.17, the viscosity of wormlike micelles in the transparent solutions continuously increased and reached ∼683 000 mPa s at pH 6.17. As the pH was adjusted to 7.31, the opalescent solution shows a water-like flowing behaviour and the η0 rapidly declines to ∼1 mPa s. Thus, dramatic viscosity changes of about 6 magnitudes can be triggered by varying the pH values without any deterioration of the EACA system. This drastic variation in rheological behavior is attributed to the pH dependent interaction between UC22AMPM and citric acid. Furthermore, the dependence on concentration and temperature of the rheological behavior of EACA solutions was also studied to assist in obtaining the desired pH-responsive viscosity changes.

The pH-Dependent Trigger in Diphtheria Toxin T Domain Comes with a Safety Latch

Protein-side-chain protonation, coupled to conformational rearrangements, is one way of regulating physiological function caused by changes in protein environment. Specifically, protonation of histidine residues has been implicated in pH-dependent conformational switching in several systems, including the diphtheria toxin translocation (T) domain, which is responsible for the toxin’s cellular entry via the endosomal pathway. Our previous studies a) identified protonation of H257 as a major component of the T domain’s conformational switch and b) suggested the possibility of a neighboring H223 acting as a modulator, affecting the protonation of H257 and preventing premature conformational changes outside the endosome. To verify this “safety-latch” hypothesis, we report here the pH-dependent folding and membrane interactions of the T domain of the wild-type and that of the H223Q mutant, which lacks the latch. Thermal unfolding of the T domain, measured by circular dichroism, revealed that the reduction in the transition temperature for helical unfolding for an H223Q mutant starts at less acidic conditions (pH <7.5) relative to the wild-type protein (pH <6.5). Hydrogen-deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry demonstrates that the H223Q replacement results in a loss of stability of the amphipathic helices TH1–3 and the hydrophobic core helix TH8 at pH 6.5. That this destabilization occurs in solution correlates well with the pH-range shift for the onset of the membrane permeabilization and translocation activity of the T domain, confirming our initial hypothesis that H223 protonation guards against early refolding. Taken together, these results demonstrate that histidine protonation can fine-tune pH-dependent switching in physiologically relevant systems.

Wormlike micelles with pH-induced rheological property formed by cationic surfactant/anthranilic acid mixed aqueous solution

The pH-induced rheological property of octadecy trimethyl ammonium bromide with anthranilic acid was investigated. The viscoelasticity property and structural transformation of molecular self-assembly were comprehensively discussed by means of rheological measurements, dynamic light scattering and cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy. On the basis of surface tension results, the change of viscoelasticity was explained by calculating the packing parameter of P. UV–vis results confirmed that the pH-dependent interaction between the aromatic ring of anthranilic acid and the head group result in the transition between WLMs and spherical micelles, thus altering the viscoelasticity of WLMs.

Differences in Interactions of Benzoic Acid and Benzoate with Interfaces

The interaction of benzoic acid and benzoate with model membrane systems was characterized to understand the molecular interactions of the two forms of a simple aromatic acid with the components of the membrane. The microemulsion system based on bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) allowed determination of the molecular positioning using 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. Benzoic acid and benzoate were both found to penetrate the membrane/water interfaces; however, the benzoic acid was able to penetrate much deeper and thus is more readily able to traverse a membrane. The Langmuir monolayer model system, using dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, was used as a generic membrane lipid for a cell. Compression isotherms of monolayers demonstrated a pH dependent interaction with a lipid monolayer and confirming the pH dependent observations shown in the reverse micellar model system. These studies provide an explanation for the antimicrobial activity of benzoic acid while benzoate is inactive. Furthermore, these studies form the framework upon which we are investigating the mode of bacterial uptake of pyrazinoic acid, the active form of pyrazinamide, a front line drug used to combat tuberculosis.

Protonation-Driven Membrane Insertion of a pH-Low Insertion Peptide.

The pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) inserts into membranes and forms a transmembrane (TM) α-helix in response to slight acidity, and has shown great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a lead, pHLIP is challenging to optimize because the mechanism of its pH-dependent membrane interactions is not completely understood. Within pHLIP there are multiple D/E residues which could sense the pH change, the particular role played by each of them in the protonation-driven insertion process is not clear. The precise location of the TM helix within the pHLIP sequence is also unknown. In this work, solid-state NMR spectroscopy is used to address these central questions. Tracing backbone conformations revealed that the TM helix spans from A10 to D33 with a break at T19 to P20. Residue-specific pKa values of D31, D33, D25, and D14 were determined to be 6.5, 6.3, 6.1, and 5.8, respectively, and define the sequence of protonations which lead to insertion. Furthermore, possible intermediate states which disrupt membranes at pH 6.4 were proposed based on tryptophan fluorescence quenching and NMR data.

Effects of Environmental pH on Antioxidant Interactions between Rosmarinic Acid and α-Tocopherol in Oil-in-Water (O/W) Emulsions.

Antioxidant regeneration could be influenced by various factors such as antioxidant locations and pH conditions. The effects of environmental pH on the antioxidant interaction between rosmarinic acid and α-tocopherol in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were investigated. Results showed that the combined antioxidants at pH 7 exhibited the strongest synergistic antioxidant activity in comparison with the combinations at other pH conditions as indicated by the interaction index. A drop in pH from 7 to 3 resulted in a reduction in the synergistic effect. However, in the case of pH 3, an additive effect was obtained. Moreover, the effect of the pH on the regeneration of α-tocopherol by rosmarinic acid in heterogeneous Tween 20 solutions was studied using EPR spectrometer. The same was true for the regeneration efficiency, where the reaction at pH 7 exhibited the highest regeneration efficiency of 0.3 mol of α-tocopheroxyl radicals reduced/mol of phenolics. However, the study on depletions of rosmarinic acid and α-tocopherol revealed that the formation of caffeic acid, an oxidative degradation product of rosmarinic acid, could be involved in enhancing the antioxidant activity observed at pH 7 rather than the antioxidant regeneration. This study has highlighted that the importance of pH-dependent antioxidant interactions does not solely rely on antioxidant regeneration. In addition, the formation of other oxidative products from an antioxidant should be taken into account.

PH-Dependent Interactions in Dimers Govern the Mechanics and Structure of von Willebrand Factor

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that is activated for hemostasis by increased hydrodynamic forces at sites of vascular injury. Here, we present data from atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force measurements, atomic force microscopy imaging, and small-angle x-ray scattering to show that the structure and mechanics of VWF are governed by multiple pH-dependent interactions with opposite trends within dimeric subunits. In particular, the recently discovered strong intermonomer interaction, which induces a firmly closed conformation of dimers and crucially involves the D4 domain, was observed with highest frequency at pH 7.4, but was essentially absent at pH values below 6.8. However, below pH 6.8, the ratio of compact dimers increased with decreasing pH, in line with a previous transmission electron microscopy study. These findings indicated that the compactness of dimers at pH values below 6.8 is promoted by other interactions that possess low mechanical resistance compared with the strong intermonomer interaction. By investigating deletion constructs, we found that compactness under acidic conditions is primarily mediated by the D4 domain, i.e., remarkably by the same domain that also mediates the strong intermonomer interaction. As our data suggest that VWF has the highest mechanical resistance at physiological pH, local deviations from physiological pH (e.g., at sites of vascular injury) may represent a means to enhance VWF’s hemostatic activity where needed.

Interpolymer Complexation Between Polyox and Carbopol, and Its Effect on Drug Release From Matrix Tablets

Interaction between Polyox N12K and Carbopol 907 was pH dependent. A hydrogen bond–induced complexation began between pH 5.0 and 6.0 in an aqueous medium, and the interpolymer complex started to precipitate when the pH fell to 4.0. This complex was amorphous with a glass transition temperature of 3.17°C. The molar ratio between ethylene oxide and acrylic acid units in the complex was 1.3:1. About 46% of the COOH groups in Carbopol 907 were H bonded to ether oxygen in Polyox. Theophylline release from tablets containing both polymers was a function of dissolution media pH, due to the pH-dependent interactions. In 0.01 N HCl, an insoluble tablet matrix formed in situ. 93% drug was released over 27 h via Fickian diffusion. In acetate buffer pH 4.0, the insoluble tablet matrix formed in situ disintegrated into tiny gel particles. Gel erosion controlled drug release at pH 4.0. These 2 polymers were unable to complex in a phosphate buffer pH 6.8. Therefore, the tablet matrix dissolved, and drug release followed the anomalous transport mechanism at pH 6.8. The release profiles in an acetate buffer pH 4.0 and phosphate buffer pH 6.8 were statistically same, and a sustained release over 12 h was achieved.

Properties and mechanisms of drug release from matrix tablets containing poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid) as release retardants

The interactions between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in aqueous medium at pH 6.8 were investigated in the current study. We have also studied the effect of interpolymer interactions and various formulation variables, including the molecular weight of PEO, the ratio between PEO and PAA, the crystallinity of PEO, and the presence of an acidifying agent, on the release of theophylline from matrix tablets containing both PEO and PAA as release retardants.At pH 6.8, the synergy in solution viscosity between PEO and PAA as the result of ion-dipole interaction was observed in this study. The release of theophylline from the matrix tablets containing physical mixtures of PEO and PAA was found to be a function of dissolution medium pH because of the pH-dependent interactions between these two polymers. Because of the formation of water insoluble interpolymer complex between PEO and PAA in aqueous medium at pH below 4.0, the release of theophylline was independent of PEO molecular weight and was controlled by Fickian diffusion mechanism in 0.01N hydrochloric acid solution. In comparison, the drug release was a function of PEO molecular weight and followed the anomalous transport mechanism in phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The presence of PAA exerted opposite effects on the release of theophylline in phosphate buffer pH 6.8. In one aspect, theophylline release was accelerated because the erosion of PAA was much faster than that of PEO at pH6.8. On the opposite aspect, theophylline release was slowed down because of the formation of insoluble complex inside the gel layer as the result of the acidic microenvironment induced by PAA, and the increase in the viscosity of the gel layer as the result of the synergy between PEO and PAA. These two opposite effects offset each other. As a result, the release of theophylline remained statistically the same even when 75% PEO in the formulation was replaced with PAA.In phosphate buffer pH 6.8, the release of theophylline was independent of the crystalline form of PEO. The release profile remained identical whether PEO was present as a semicrystalline powder blend with PAA or an amorphous complex with PAA in the matrix tablets. It has also been observed that the presence of citric acid as an acidifying agent had negligible effect on the drug release rate.