Evaluation of Possible Natural Latex Substitutes from Artificially prepared latex using Transmission Electron Microscope

Abstract

Rubber particles are the most abundance organelle in the laticifers of rubber tree. The bulk of rubber particles in NR latex exist in the form of particles dispersed in latex emulsion (cell cytosol). These naturally occurring particles are made-up of rubber core surrounded by a monolayer of non-rubber materials such as protein and lipids. In this report, transmission electron microscopy techniques were used to observe the differences between   natural rubber (NR) particles and artificially prepared rubber particles from dried latex compound. The morphology of artificial rubber particles appeared to be similar to the particles of natural rubber but with different particle size distribution. More importantly, membrane-bound proteins (14 & 24 kD)  that were associated with latex allergen were not found on the membrane of the artificially prepared rubber particles.  This study is part of an effort to develop new NR-based   rubber substitutes in addressing future energy crisis which is caused by dwindling global petroleum supply (Petroleum is the main raw material for many synthetic rubbers)

Key words:  Rubber microscopy, artificial latex, protein allergy, Rubber particle size, double immunogold labelling.