Protein adsorption


Proteins are highly important due to their tendency to deposit on surfaces in often an irreversible reaction.


Proteins adsorb for several reasons:

  • Adsorption results in a lowering of the system's free energy
  • Amphipathic nature of the molecules: polar/nonpolar
  • Macromolecular nature and limits of solubility

Proteins tend to arrive at a surface by diffusion

If transport to the surface is fast compared to binding then rate of adsorption will be equal to the rate of binding.

If binding is faster then the rate of transport controls rate of adsorption.

Further info consult "Biocompatible polymers, metals and composites". M Szycher

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