Abstract

The present work is aimed to investigate by Inelastic Neutron Scattering the vibrational behaviour of a class of bioprotectant systems, such as homologous disaccharides, trehalose, maltose and sucrose, in water mixtures. The obtained neutron scattering findings point out that disaccharides, and in particular trehalose, have a destructuring effect on the water tetrahedral network, as emphasised by the analysis of the librational modes region, and emphasise their kosmotrope character. The “cryptocrystalline” character, shown by the bending modes region features, has been investigated and linked to the different bioprotective effectiveness of disaccharide as a function of concentration.   

Keywords: disaccharides; trehalose; tetrahedral network; vibrational properties; neutron scattering.