Surface Enrichment of Proteins at Quartz / Water Interfaces: A Neutron Reflectivity Study

Abstract

Neutron reflectivity (NR) was used to study the adsorption of human serum albumin and human fibrinogen on quartz. The proteins were individually and sequentially adsorbed from heavy water and heavy water/methanol mixtures at pH 4 and 7.0. The technique allows for the subnanometer resolution of the adsorbed layer thickness and gross morphology. under the conditions of our measurements we found that fibrinogen formed a distinct layer that we interpret as a mat of the protein three layers thick whereas albumin formed only diffuse layers. The adsorption pattern of the two proteins changed radically when one protein was adsorbed on top of the other (previously adsorbed). In general our measurements indicate that the adsorbed protein layers on quartz are rather loosely bound and that these layers, incorporating as much as 80% water, extend further into the bulk fluid than might have been expected.

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Keywords and Phrases

Albumin; Fibrinogen; Neutron Reflectivity; Protein Adsorption; Sequential Adsorption

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0021-9797

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2005 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

15 May 2005

Link to Full Text

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