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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Solubility of Hydrophobic Compounds in Aqueous Solution Using Combinations of Self-assembling Peptide and Amino Acid
Published on: September 20, 2017
The miscibility and solubility of uric acid and vitamin C in the solution phase and their structural alignment in the
Krishna Gopal Chattaraj1, Sandip Paul1
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India. sandipp@iitg.ernet.in.
Abstract:
The crystallization of uric acid (UA) in humans is correlated with unpropitious medical predicaments, including gout and kidney stone germination. Its comparatively low solubility in physiological solutions is a significant contributory factor to UA biomineralization. The inhibition of UA aggregation is investigated as a reasonable approach for reducing kidney and gout-related problems. Therefore, we examine the role of vitamin C (Vit-C), a water-soluble vitamin, in the aggregation of UA, and its potency in solubilizing UA has been confirmed experimentally. We notice that Vit-C encapsulates the aggregated UA. Moreover, it can dismantle the assemblies of UA. We have proffered comprehensive molecular mechanisms of the interplay between the aggregated UA and Vit-C. Vit-C molecules are interspersed in solution due to its non-aggregating nature. We perceive that, through hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking interactions, Vit-C molecules interact with UA molecules. The determination of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters suggests that the presence of Vit-C enhances the solubility of UA aggregates. In addition, UA molecules are conformed on a monolayer graphene sheet, where they are assembled to create a 2D self-assembly. Vit-C, however, encapsulates and disseminates itself within the aggregated UA molecules on the surface. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms of the impact of Vit-C on UA aggregation can provide relevant insights into drug design against chronic diseases.
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