In situ monitoring of protein adsorption on a nanoparticulated gold film by attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy

In situ surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) with an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration has been used to monitor the adsorption kinetics of bovine hemoglobin (BHb) on a Au nanoparticle (NP) film. The IR absorbance for BHb molecules on a gold nanoparticle film deposited on a Si hemispherical optical window is about 58 times higher than that on a bare Si optical window and the detection sensitivity has been improved by 3 orders of magnitude. From the IR signal as a function of adsorption time, the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics can be explored in situ. It is found that both the electrostatic interaction and the coordination bonds between BHb residues and Au NP film surface affect the adsorption kinetics. The maximum adsorption can be obtained in solution pH 7.0 (close to the isoelectric point of the protein) due to the electrostatic interaction among proteins. In addition, the isotherm of BHb adsorption follows well the Freundlich adsorption model.     

功能化介孔硅材料的合成及其对富含裸露组氨酸蛋白质的选择性吸附

通过自由基聚合反应合成了具有高比表面积的介孔硅(PPOSS),并对其表面进行修饰和铜离子(Cu~(2+))的固定,最终得到功能化介孔硅材料(PPOSS-IDA-Cu~(2+)),然后利用PPOSS-IDA-Cu~(2+)中的Cu~(2+)与蛋白质裸露组氨酸的螯合作用,选择性吸附富含裸露组氨酸的蛋白质。对牛血红蛋白、牛血清白蛋白、肌红蛋白和溶菌酶的吸附结果表明,所合成的PPOSS-IDA-Cu~(2+)材料对富含组氨酸的牛血红蛋白有较好的吸附选择性和较大的吸附容量(3 150mg/g),并且有望与其他材料联合使用,以检测到更多相对丰度较低的蛋白质,丰富人类蛋白质组学信息,为疾病的临床诊断及病理研究提供帮助。     

Separation of serum proteins with uncoupled microsphere particles in a stirred cell

Submicron microspheres were used directly without ligand coupling for the batch and continuous separations of proteins. In the batch experiments for separating BSA (bovine serum albumin) from BHb (bovine hemoglobin), introducing both hydrophobic effects for BSA and electrostatic repulsion for BHb (and vice versa) was required for high selectivity, and microspheres with low number density of surface groups were advantageous. For the continuous experiments, the utilization of a stirred cell was successful, where the microspheres were in the form of latex with good dispersion of particles. The flow rate without a pump was 0.5–1.3 ml min⁻¹, and the ratio of BSA and BHb was varied. In the experiments for eliminating BHb from BSA, elution curves of BHb corresponded to the single component breakthrough curves, while those for BSA did not. The latter is believed to be due to the interference by BHb in the adsorption of BSA.     

Protein-coated beta-ferric hydrous oxide particles. An electrokinetic and electrooptic study

Using microelectrophoresis and electric light scattering techniques, we investigated the adsorption characteristics, surface coverage and surface electric parameters of superstructures from two isoforms of plastocyanin, PCa and PCb, in an oxidized state adsorbed on beta-ferric hydrous oxide particles. The surface electric charge and electric dipole moments of the composite particles and the thickness of the protein adsorption layer are determined in a wide pH range, at different ionic strengths and concentration ratios of PC to beta-FeOOH. The adsorption of the two proteins was found to shift the particles' isoelectric point and to alter the total electric charge and the electric dipole moments of the oxide particles to different extent. A "reversal" in the direction of the permanent dipole moment is observed at lower pH for PCb- than for PCa-coated oxide particles. Strict correlation is found between the changes in the electrokinetic charge of the composite particles and the variation in their "permanent" dipole moments. Data suggest that the adsorption of the proteins is driven by electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions with the oxide surfaces dependent on pH. The adsorption behaviour is consistent with the involvement of the "eastern" and "northern" patches of the plastocyanin molecules in their adsorption on the oxide surfaces that are differently charged depending on pH.     

Protein-coated β-ferric hydrous oxide particles: An electrokinetic and electrooptic study

Using microelectrophoresis and electric light scattering techniques, we investigated the adsorption characteristics, surface coverage and surface electric parameters of superstructures from two isoforms of plastocyanin, PCa and PCb, in an oxidized state adsorbed on β-ferric hydrous oxide particles. The surface electric charge and electric dipole moments of the composite particles and the thickness of the protein adsorption layer are determined in a wide pH range, at different ionic strengths and concentration ratios of PC to β-FeOOH. The adsorption of the two proteins was found to shift the particles’ isoelectric point and to alter the total electric charge and the electric dipole moments of the oxide particles to different extent. A “reversal” in the direction of the permanent dipole moment is observed at lower pH for PCb- than for PCa-coated oxide particles. Strict correlation is found between the changes in the electrokinetic charge of the composite particles and the variation in their “permanent” dipole moments. Data suggest that the adsorption of the proteins is driven by electrostatic and/or hydrophobic interactions with the oxide surfaces dependent on pH. The adsorption behaviour is consistent with the involvement of the “eastern” and “northern” patches of the plastocyanin molecules in their adsorption on the oxide surfaces that are differently charged depending on pH.     

Synthesis of magnetic chelator for high-capacity immobilized metal affinity adsorption of protein by cerium initiated graft polymerization

A novel magnetic chelator with high adsorption capacity of protein by immobilized metal affinity adsorption was prepared by cerium (IV) initiated graft polymerization of tentacle-type polymer chains with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) chelating group on magnetic particles with hydroxyl groups. The micron-sized magnetic poly(vinyl acetate-divinylbenzene) (PVAc-DVB) particles were prepared by a modified suspension polymerization in the presence of oleic acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles and subsequently modified by ester exchange reaction to introduce functional hydroxyl groups. Bovine hemoglobin (BHb) was selected as a model protein to investigate the adsorption capacity of these magnetic particles. The magnetic particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the magnetic particles had an average size of 5 microm and superparamagnetism with saturation magnetization of 20.0 emu/g at room temperature. The protein adsorption indicated that the graft polymerization of tentacle type polymer chains on the magnetic particles could produce magnetic adsorbents with high adsorption capacity (1428.21 mg/g) and low nonspecific adsorption of protein. The magnetic particles with grafted tentacle polymer chains have potential application in large-scale affinity separation of proteins.     

Magnetic Silica‐Coated Sub‐Microspheres with Immobilized Metal Ions for the Selective Removal of Bovine Hemoglobin from Bovine Blood

Magnetic silica‐coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) sub‐microspheres with immobilized metal‐affinity ligands are prepared for protein adsorption. First, magnetite sub‐microspheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Then silica was coated on the surface of Fe₃O₄ particles using a sol–gel method to obtain magnetic silica sub‐microspheres with core‐shell morphology. Next, the trichloro(4‐chloromethylphenyl) silane was immobilized on them, reacted with iminodiacetic acid (IDA), and charged with Cu²⁺. The obtained magnetic silica sub‐microspheres with immobilized Cu²⁺ were applied for the absorption of bovine hemoglobin (BHb) and the removal of BHb from bovine blood. The size, morphology, and magnetic properties of the resulting magnetic micro(nano) spheres were investigated by using scanning microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The measurements showed that the magnetic sub‐microspheres are spherical in shape, very uniform in size with a core‐shell, and are almost superparamagnetic. The saturation magnetization of silica‐coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) sub‐microspheres reached about 33 emu g^?1. Protein adsorption results showed that the sub‐microspheres had a high adsorption capacity for BHb (418.6 mg g^?1), low nonspecific adsorption, and good removal of BHb from bovine blood. This opens a novel route for future applications in removing abundant proteins in proteomic analysis.     

Profiling protein-surface interactions of multicomponent suspensions via flow cytometry

This study presents the use of flow cytometry as a high-throughput quantifiable technique to study multicomponent adsorption interactions between proteins and surfaces. Flow cytometry offers the advantage of high-throughput analysis of multiple parameters on a very small sampling scale. This enables flow cytometry to distinguish between individual adsorbent particles and adsorbate components within a suspension. As a proof of concept study, the adsorption of three proteins--bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) and fibrinogen--onto five surface-modified organosilica microsphere surfaces was used as a model multicomponent system for analysis. By uniquely labeling each protein and solid support type with spectrally distinguishable fluorescent dyes, the adsorption process could be "multiplexed" allowing for simultaneous screening of multiple adsorbate (protein) and adsorbent (particle surface) interactions. Protein adsorption experiments quantified by flow cytometry were found to be comparable to single-component adsorption studies by solution depletion. Quantitative distribution of the simultaneous competitive adsorption of BSA and IgG indicated that, at concentrations below surface saturation, both proteins adsorbed onto the surface. However, at concentrations greater than surface saturation, BSA preferentially adsorbed. Multiplexed particle suspensions of optically encoded particles were modified to produce a positively and negatively charged surface, a grafted 3400 MW poly(ethylene glycol) layer, or a physisorbed BSA or IgG layer. It was observed that adsorption was rapid and irreversible on all of the surfaces, and preadsorbed protein layers were the most effective in preventing further protein adsorption.     

Silica particles coated with azobenzene-containing photoresponsive molecule-imprinted skin layer

We developed a novel type of azobenzene-containing photoresponsive molecule-imprinted silica microspheres. Ibuprofen and activated silica particles were used as template molecules and substrates, respectively. Pre-synthesized azobenzene-based monomers were chemically bonded on the surface of silica particles. Template–monomer complexes were formed relying on hydrogen bonding. Then skin layer was formed by graft polymerization of azobenzene-based monomers. After that, ibuprofen molecules were removed from their embedded spaces. The vacant spaces on the surface of particles were easily accessible for the template molecules. Furthermore, photoinduced trans–cis isomerization of azobenzene chromophores within imprinted vacant spaces was able to regulate their substrate affinity. The results demonstrated that the imprinted silica microspheres possessed obvious molecular imprinting effects towards the template ibuprofen, rather fast template rebinding kinetics, and appreciate selectivity over structurally related compounds.     

Interaction of bovine serum albumin and human blood plasma with PEO-tethered surfaces: influence of PEO chain length, grafting density, and temperature

Solid surfaces are modified by grafting poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, to influence their interaction with indwelling particles, in particular molecules of bovine serum albumin and human plasma proteins. As a rule, the grafted PEO layers suppress protein adsorption. The suppression is most effective when the PEO layer is in a molecular brush conformation having a reciprocal grafting density (area per grafted PEO chain) less than the dimensions of the protein molecules. Nevertheless, the protein molecules may penetrate the PEO brush to some extent. For a given grafting density, the penetration is facilitated by increasing thickness of the brush. Tenuous brushes of reciprocal grafting densities exceeding the protein molecular dimensions enhance protein adsorption. The results point to a weak attractive interaction between PEO and protein. The protein repellency of a densely PEO-brushed surface is ascribed to a high activation energy for the protein molecules to enter the brush. Varying the temperature between 22 and 38 degrees C does not significantly affect the range of grafting density over which the brush changes from protein-attractive to protein-repellent.     

Electrostatic interactions between amphoteric latex particles and proteins

The electrostatic interactions between amphoteric polymethyl methacrylate latex particles and proteins with different pI values were investigated. These latex particles possess a net positive charge at low pH, but they become negatively charged at high pH. The nature and degree of interactions between these polymer particles and proteins are primarily controlled by the electrostatic characteristics of the particles and proteins under the experimental conditions. The self-promoting adsorption process from the charge neutralization of latex particles by the proteins, which have the opposite net charge to that of the particles, leads to a rapid reduction in the zeta potential of the particles (in other words colloidal stability), and so strong flocculation occurs. On the other hand, the electrostatic repulsion forces between similarly charged latex particles and the proteins retard the adsorption of protein molecules onto the surfaces of the particles. Therefore, latex particles exhibit excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of protein concentrations. A transition from net negative charge to net positive charge, and vice versa (charge reversal), was observed when the particle surface charge density was not high enough to be predominant in the protein adsorption process.     

Protein adsorption characteristics of calcium hydroxyapatites modified with pyrophosphoric acids

Protein adsorption characteristics of calcium hydroxyapatite (Hap) modified with pyrophosphoric acids (PP(a)) were examined. The PP(a) modified Hap particles (abbreviated as PP-Hap) possessed anchored polyphosphate (PP: P-{O-PO(OH)}(n)-OH) branches on their surfaces. The proteins of bovine serum albumin (BSA: isoelectric point (iep)=4.7, molecular mass (M(s))=67,200 Da, acidic protein), myoglobin (MGB: iep=7.0, M(s)=17,800 Da, neutral protein), and lysozyme (LSZ: iep=11.1, M(s)=14,600 Da, basic protein) were examined. The zeta potential (zp) of PP-Hap particles as a function of pH overlapped; zp-pH curves were independent of the concentration of pyrophosphoric acids (abbreviated as [PP(a)]) used for modifying Hap surface. The saturated amounts of adsorbed BSA (Delta n(ads)(BSA)) were increased three-fold by the surface modification with PP(a) though they were independent of the [PP(a)]. Furthermore, the fraction of BSA desorption was independent of the [PP(a)]. This enhancement of BSA adsorption onto the PP-Hap is due to the hydrogen bonding between oxygen and OH groups of the PP-branches and functional groups of BSA molecules. In the case of LSZ, a more higher adsorption enhancement was observed; the saturated amount of adsorbed LSZ (Delta n(ads)(LSZ)) for Hap modified at [PP(a)]=6 mmol/dm(3) was nine-fold than that for Hap unmodified. This remarkable adsorption enhancement was explained by a three-dimensional binding mechanism; LSZ molecules were trapped inside of the PP-branches. Hence, a fraction of LSZ desorption was decreased with an increase in the [PP(a)]; as more PP-branches are presented on the surface the higher retardation of LSZ desorption was induced. It was expected from their small size that MGB adsorb between the PP-branches as well as LSZ. However, the amounts of adsorbed MGB (Delta n(ads)(MGB)) did not vary and were independent of the [PP(a)] due to the small numbers of functional groups of MGB. In addition, no dependence of the fraction of MGB desorption on the [PP(a)] was observed. The results of zp for all the protein systems supported the mode of protein adsorption discussed. The anchored structure of the PP-branches developed on the Hap surface to provide three-dimensional protein adsorption spaces was proved by a comparative experiment that was elucidating the effect of pyrophosphate ions for BSA adsorption onto Hap.     

Protein adsorption and wetting of the protein adsorbed surfaces studied by a new type of laser reflectometer

We have devised a new type of laser reflectometer that can measure adsorption behavior of (bio)-polymers, such as proteins, on the substrate surface and also the wetting for the surface of adsorbed layer of such (bio)-polymers. The adsorption and the wetting experiments can be conducted in a sequential manner using the same sample by this apparatus. So, the wetting of the surface of protein-adsorbed layer can be measured in virtually intact state. The reflectometry is based on the traditional optical polarimetry and the wetting measurement is due to the dropping time method (DTM) that has been reported before by the authors. The two methods are combined in an apparatus and hence we can correlate the wetting of protein layer adsorbed on the substrate surfaces with the amounts of protein molecules on the surface. As a model case we demonstrate the adsorption of several typical water soluble globular proteins on stainless steel surfaces. For this combination of the adsorbent with adsorbates, it is found that the water wetting of the protein adsorbed surface is closely related with the adsorbed amounts of proteins not depending on species.     

Microencapsulation of bovine hemoglobin with high bio-activity and high entrapment efficiency using a W/O/W double emulsion technique

This study focused on the influences of solvent removal method and wall polymer composition on microspheres characteristics in W/O/W double emulsion procedure. Monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly- -lactide (PELA) microspheres containing bovine hemoglobin (BHb, a model protein) were prepared by four solvent removal methods, including solvent-evaporation at atmosphere, at reduced pressure, solvent-extraction and solvent-diffusion methods, where the last method used ethyl acetate (EA) as organic solvent and the others used methylene chloride (MC). The bio-activity of encapsulated BHb, encapsulation efficiency, particle size and surface morphology of microspheres were evaluated in relation to the influences of solvent removal method and PELA composition. BHb encapsulated by the W/O/W double emulsion–solvent diffusion method with EA as organic solvent displayed a bio-activity near to that of native BHb. The efficiency of BHb entrapment achieved by this method was much higher than those by other methods (ca. 90% versus 30%). When using this process, the copolymers with MPEG 2000 block (molecular weight of PEG block: 2000 g/mol) yielded much higher efficiencies of BHb entrapment than those with MPEG 5000 block (90% versus 36%). Copolymer composition had less impact on microsphere size, but had a pronounced effect on surface morphology of microspheres. This study suggests that the W/O/W double emulsion–solvent diffusion method with EA as organic solvent is an effective process to prepare microspheres containing therapeutic proteins, and that the PELA copolymers containing MPEG 2000 block are promising wall material for biodegradable microsphere protein delivery system.     

A quasi-equilibrium theory of protein adsorption

A model is developed to describe the adsorption and desorption of proteins to and from a surface film under quasi-equilibrium conditions. Starting from Fick's first law of diffusion, an equation for the flux of molecules to a surface is derived assuming a gradient in the chemical potential from the bulk to the surface and a potential barrier due to an existing surface film. Protein molecules are modeled as components with varying surface areas to depict the different orientations of molecules with respect to the film. For concentrated solutions, formation of multilayer protein films is described by allowing components with small minimum surface areas. The thermodynamic analysis is based on Butler's equation for the chemical potentials of the components of a Gibbs surface layer and a first-order model for the nonideality of the surface layer enthalpy and entropy. The model assumes reversible adsorption, consistent with globular proteins that show little denaturation or flexible-chain proteins that reversibly denature at the interface. The model predicts the behavior of five different experiments measuring film properties of the serum protein albumin in quasi-equilibrium and equilibrium conditions at over 2 orders of magnitude in concentration using a single set of parameters. This provides a new framework for analyzing interactions and adsorption of protein films. The key new features of this model are an extension of the classical Smoluchowski analysis to calculate the adsorption and desorption rate, a model of multilayers with decreased molecular areas to allow effective densities greater than a close-packed monolayer, and a concentration-dependent layer thickness.     

The effect of polyelectrolyte chain length on layer-by-layer protein/polyelectrolyte assembly--an experimental study

The effect of polyelectrolyte chain length on the formation of multilayered assemblies of alternating globular proteins and linear polyanions prepared by the layer-by-layer electrostatic adsorption technique was investigated. The systems studied were albumin/sodium poly(styrenesulfonate), immunoglobulin G/sodium poly(styrenesulfonate), albumin/sodium dextran sulfate, and albumin/heparin. The formation of assemblies was followed using FTIR multiple internal reflection spectroscopy. While the amount of polyelectrolyte adsorbed on the first (primary) protein layer did not depend on its molecular weight, the effect of polyelectrolyte chain length was clearly observed in the following steps of alternating adsorption. Some short-chain polyanion molecules were removed from the surface when a next protein layer was adsorbed from solution. The short polyanion chains were not able to make a sufficient number of ion pairs for stable interaction with additional protein molecules and left the surface as soluble protein/polyanion complexes. The most pronounced effect could be seen with sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) of Mw up to ca. 2 x 10(4), but a detectable effect could be traced even up to Mw ca. 8 x 10(4). Such a pronounced effect, however, was not observed with dextran sulfate. The effect of molecular weight of heparin was clearly observed but all heparins tested, regardless of their molecular weight, effectively assembled with albumin to form multilayer.     

Effects of pyrophosphate ions on protein adsorption onto calcium hydroxyapatite

The effects of pyrophosphate ions (PP: P2O7(4-)) on the adsorption of proteins onto calcium hydroxyapatite (Hap) were examined using typical proteins of bovine serum albumin (BSA: isoelectric point (iep) = 4.7, molecular mass (M(s)) = 67 200 Da, acidic protein), myoglobin (MGB: iep = 7.0, M(s) = 17 800 Da, neutral protein), and lysozyme (LSZ: iep = 11.1, M(s) = 14,600 Da, basic protein). The UV and CD measurements determined that both the secondary and the tertiary structures of protein molecules do not vary in the presence of PP. The adsorption of BSA was strongly depressed by the addition of PP in all the methods with changing the order of PP addition. Even if BSA was pre-adsorbed on the Hap surface, PP replaced BSA molecules by strong preferential adsorption onto Hap to reduce the amounts of adsorbed BSA. A similar effect was observed with the adsorption of MGB. On the other hand, the amount of adsorbed LSZ (n(LSZ)) was increased with an increase in the concentration of PP, and the n(LSZ) value showed a maximum point in each adsorption isotherm. This fact was explained by a compression of the electric double layer (EDL) around each LSZ molecule by PP. This compression of the EDL induced the reduction of lateral electrostatic repulsions between charged LSZ molecules on the Hap surface and enhanced the formation of closed-packed monolayers to raise the n(LSZ) value. However, since the number of PPs around a LSZ molecule is decreased by an increase in the LSZ concentration in each system, the thickness of the EDL may be increased. Hence, n(LSZ) was reduced again after the maximum point in each system. Tripolyphosphate (TPP: P3O10(5-)) ions exhibited similar effects on the adsorption behaviors of all proteins, but a much more pronounced effect was observed on the LSZ system. TPP with a higher eletronegativity shielded the EDL more highly than PP to increase the n(LSZ) value. The results of the zeta potential for all the protein systems supported the modes of protein adsorption discussed.     

Polyelectrolyte-mediated protein adsorption: fluorescent protein binding to individual polyelectrolyte nanospheres

We have used confocal fluorescence microscopy with single molecule sensitivity to characterize uptake and release of fluorescent protein (mEosFP) molecules by individual spherical polyelectrolyte brush (SPB) nanoparticles that were immobilized on a glass surface. The SPB particles consisted of a solid core particle of 100 nm diameter onto which long polyelectrolyte chains were affixed. They could be loaded with up to 30 000 mEosFP molecules in a solvent of low ionic strength. The concentration dependence of protein loading can be described with a simple bimolecular binding model, characterized by an equilibrium dissociation coefficient of 0.5 microM. Essentially complete release of the bound proteins was observed after increasing the ionic strength by adding 250 mM NaCl to the solvent. Fluorescence emission spectra and time-resolved fluorescence intensity decays were measured on individual, mEosFP-loaded SPB nanoparticles, and also on the dissolved mEosFP before and after adsorption. These results indicate that the mEosFP molecules remained structurally intact in this procedure. Hence, the present investigation demonstrates unambiguously that polyelectrolyte-mediated protein adsorption onto SPB particles presents a viable process for protein immobilization.     

Equilibrium and Dynamic Characteristics of Protein Adsorption Layers at Gas-Liquid Interfaces: Theoretical and Experimental Data

Within the framework of a nonideal two-dimensional solution model, equations are derived for the state of a surface layer, adsorption isotherms, and the distribution function of adsorbed protein molecules with respect to their states characterized by different molar surface areas. The derived equations satisfactorily describe the known experimental dependences obtained for equilibrium adsorption layers of some proteins (serum albumin, β-casein, and β-lactoglobulin): the dependences of the surface pressure on concentration and adsorption, the surface layer thickness on adsorption, and the limiting high-frequency elastic modulus of an adsorption layer on the surface pressure. All dependences for a given protein are described by the same set of parameters of the theoretical model. It is shown that the kinetics of protein adsorption studied by dynamic tensiometry, ellipsometry, and the radiotracer technique is consistent with the diffusion model comprising the Ward-Tordai equation and the set of equations describing the equilibrium. The kinetics of protein desorption from the adsorption layer at a liquid-fluid interface is analyzed. The kinetics of β-lactoglobulin desorption is shown to be described by the barrier mechanism.__________Translated from Kolloidnyi Zhurnal, Vol. 67, No. 4, 2005, pp. 437–449.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fainerman, Miller.     

Proteins at liquid interfaces: II. Adsorption isotherms

Adsorption isotherms for the three proteins β-casein, bovine serum albumin, and lysozyme at the air-water and oil-water interfaces have been determined independently using ellipsometry and surface radioactivity methods; the surface pressure and surface potential were also monitored. Saturated monolayer coverage occurs via irreversible adsorption of 2–3 mg M^?2 of protein; the resultant films generate surface pressures of about 20 mN m^?1 and are 50–60 Å thick. Molecules adsorbed in the first layer dominate the film pressures so that further adsorption causes no change in the pressure although the film thickness can increase to more than 100 Å. The molecules which give rise to this increase in film thickness are reversibly adsorbed with respect to aqueous substrate exchange. The experimental isotherm data and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm are in close agreement at low protein concentrations. However, comparison with the Gibbs adsorption equation is not valid, although reasonable agreement can be achieved if some account is taken of the fact that the protein molecules in the first layer are irreversibly adsorbed.