Strong resistance of oligo(phosphorylcholine) self-assembled monolayers to protein adsorption

In this work, we demonstrate the strong resistance of oligo(phosphorylcholine) (OPC) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to protein adsorption and cell adhesion. OPC SAMs were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and protein adsorption was measured using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. Results are compared with those of phosphorylcholine (PC) SAMs. Despite the existence of negative charge on OPC SAMs and the simple synthesis procedure of OPC thiols, OPC SAMs resist protein adsorption as effectively as or better than PC SAMs formed from highly purified PC thiols. The ease of their preparation and the effectiveness of their function make OPC SAMs an attractive alternative for creating nonfouling surfaces.     

Preparation of thin polymer films with drug release and protein adsorption resistance

Thin polymer films with the ability of both drug release and protein adsorption resistance were formed on silicon substrates and silica particles. The films were made of a block copolymer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(AAm)) that can load and release drugs and poly(2-methoxyethyl methacrylate) (p(MEMA)) that can suppress protein adsorption. Aspirin and bovine serum albumin were respectively used as model substances for testing the abilities of the films to load and release drugs and to suppress protein adsorption. The films were immersed in a phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4) for 100 days to evaluate their water resistance. The experimental results showed that the films have both drug release and protein adsorption resistance and are highly stable against PBS.     

Strong resistance of phosphorylcholine self-assembled monolayers to protein adsorption: insights into nonfouling properties of zwitterionic materials

In this work, we show the strong resistance of zwitterionic phosphorylcholine (PC) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to protein adsorption and examine key factors leading to their nonfouling behavior using both experimental and molecular simulation techniques. Zwitterions with a balanced charge and minimized dipole are excellent candidates as nonfouling materials due to their strong hydration capacity via electrostatic interactions.     

The electrostatic interaction between a charged sphere and an oppositely charged planar surface and its application to protein adsorption

To calculate the electrostatic interaction between a charged sphere and a charged surface under the condition of constant charge density on the two surfaces is difficult. The theory presented in this paper provides an approximate solution to this problem when the charge of the two bodies is of opposite sign. The proposed calculation model is based on a solution of the Poisson–Boltzmann (P–B) equation for two oppositely charged planar surfaces to which the approximate integration procedure developed by Deryaguin is applied. The obtained expression is rather simple and is in good agreement with retention data for a protein in ion exchange chromatography. The developed model is physically more sound than the previously developed ‘slab’ model for protein retention. Under the experimental conditions of ion exchange chromatography of proteins, the two models give comparable numerical values for the ionic strength dependence of retention.     

Rapid development of hydrophilicity and protein adsorption resistance by polymer surfaces bearing phosphorylcholine and naphthalene groups

In order to provide a protein adsorption resistant surface even when the surface was in contact with a protein solution under completely dry conditions, a new phospholipid copolymer, poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)- co-2-vinylnaphthalene (vN)) (PMvN), was synthesized. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) could be readily coated with PMvN by a solvent evaporation method. Dynamic contact angle measurements with water revealed that the surface was wetted very rapidly and had strong hydrophilic characteristics; moreover, molecular mobility at the surface was extremely low. When the surface came in contact with a plasma protein solution containing bovine serum albumin (BSA), the amounts of the plasma protein adsorbed on the dry surface coated with PMvN and that adsorbed on a dry surface coated with poly(MPC-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB) were compared. Substantially lower protein adsorption was observed with PMvN coating. This is due to the rapid hydration behavior of PMvN. We concluded that PMvN can be used as a functional coating material for medical devices without any wetting pretreatment.     

Gas adsorption by a crystalline silicic acid

Crystalline silicic acids are prepared from alkali layer silicates by exchanging protons for the alkali ions. The acid H₂Si₂₀O₄₁ · xH₂O (parent material K₂Si₂₀O₄₁ · xH₂O) exhibits some outstanding gas adsorption properties which are related to the layer structure and the interlamellar microporosity. The external surface, about 20 m² g^–1, is estimated from nitrogen adsorption data after blocking the micropores. Slit-shaped ultramicropores (with diameters similiar to that of the nitrogen molecule) between the layers are widened to supermicropores near the crystal edges. During an adsorption run the nitrogen molecules penetrate more deeply into the ultramicropores. Nitrogen molecules strongly adsorbed in the ultramicropores are not desorbed at 77 K. Additional amounts of nitrogen are adsorbed by widening of the slit-shaped micropores at the crystal edges when pressure increases. This process proceeds slowly and is reversible.     

Determination of boron in the thin surface layer of a silicon wafer by instrumental charged particle activation analysis

Instrumental charged particle activation analysis (CPAA) for determining boron in a thin surface layer of silicon was developed. The nuclear reaction and incident energy were selected in order to minimize any interference from surface or bulk impurities. Thin boron film was used as a standard sample and its boron content was determined by neutron induced prompt -ray analysis. As a result, we were able to determine¹¹B and¹⁰B at 10¹⁵ atoms/cm² with an accuracy of better than 3% by 4 MeV proton and 7 MeV -bombardment, respectively. Each boron isotope could be determined down to 10¹³ atoms/cm². Our CPAA was applied to determine boron in a boron implanted silicon wafer of a SIMS standard sample.     

Electrokinetic diffusioosmotic flow of Ostwald-de Waele fluids near a charged flat plate in the thin double layer limit

Electrokinetic diffusioosmotic flow of Ostwald-de Waele, or power-law, fluids near a large charged flat plate is theoretically investigated for very thin double layers. Solutions to the flow velocity both up-close and far from the flat plate as well as the effective viscosity are presented for general values of the flow behavior index. Results show that given a wall zeta potential, ζ, diffusivity difference parameter, β, and constant imposed solute concentration gradient, both the near and far field diffusioosmotic flow velocities obtained for the respective dilatant and pseudoplastic liquids considerably deviate from those obtained for Newtonian liquids as found in previous literature. This likely suggests that the electrokinetic diffusioosmosis and its complementary effect of diffusiophoresis depend sensitively not only on the ζ-β parametric pair, but also on the possible non-Newtonian characteristics of the electrolytic liquid phase of the system. The theory presented herein can also be readily modified to model or describe electrodiffusioosmosis in power-law fluids, which is likely found in flow situations where the fluid non-Newtonian response, imposed solute concentration gradient, and an additional externally applied electric current density (or electric field) are of equal importance.     

Kinetics of adsorption of hydrocarbon chloro-derivatives from seven-component aqueous solution onto a thin layer of DTO-activated carbon

The mass transfer and effective intraparticle diffusion coefficients were determined in the adsorption process of 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,1-dichloroethene, perchloroethene, and 1,1,2-trichloroethene from seven-component aqueous solution onto a thin layer of activated carbon. A modified constant-volume method was used in the studies. A correlation between similarity numbers in the form of Sh=2+1.54Re(0.66)Sc(0.33) was derived for a range of the Reynolds numbers in(1-15). Based on the Biot number, it was found that within the range of Reynolds numbers <14 the mass transport through a film decides the adsorption rate.     

Atomic layer deposition of crystalline molybdenum oxide thin films and phase control by post-deposition annealing

Molybdenum forms a range of oxides with different stoichiometries and crystal structures, which lead to different properties and performance in diverse applications. Herein, crystalline molybdenum oxide thin films with controlled phase composition are deposited by atomic layer deposition. The MoO₂(thd)₂ and O₃ as precursors enable well-controlled growth of uniform and conformal films at 200–275 °C. The as-deposited films are rough and, in most cases, consist of a mixture of α- and β-MoO₃ as well as an unidentified suboxide MoO_x (2.75 ≤ x ≤ 2.89) phase. The phase composition can be tuned by changing deposition conditions. The film stoichiometry is close to MoO₃ and the films are relatively pure, the main impurity being hydrogen (2–7 at-%), with ≤1 at-% of carbon and nitrogen. Post-deposition annealing is studied in situ by high-temperature X-ray diffraction in air, O₂, N₂, and forming gas (10% H₂/90% N₂) atmospheres. Phase-pure films of MoO₂ and α-MoO₃ are obtained by annealing at 450 °C in forming gas and O₂, respectively. The ability to tailor the phase composition of MoO_x films deposited by scalable atomic layer deposition method represents an important step towards various applications of molybdenum oxides.     

Validation of thin layer and high performance thin layer chromatographic methods

Analytical validation is a key requirement to asses and to prove a method's reliability and suitability for an intended use. Planar chromatographic procedures are used in different applications ranging from simple screening tests to sophisticated instrumental quantitative assays of analytes in complex matrices. This paper intends to give guidance on how to adopt international accepted formal requirements and guidelines for validation of these different TLC/HPTLC procedures. In addition, some selected parameters for robustness testing and for on going quality assurance of analytical performance based on control charts are reported.     

Dynamics of electrical double layer formation at a charged solid surface

A theoretical study of the dynamics of electrical double layer formation near a charged solid surface is presented. A microscopic expression for the time dependent inhomogeneous charge density of an ionic solution next to a newly charged surface is derived by using linear response theory and molecular hydrodynamics. The presence of interionic correlations is included through ionic structure factors. The rate of electrical double layer formation is found to depend rather strongly on ion concentration and on the dielectric constant of the medium. It is also found that the formation of double layer becomes slower with increase in distance from the charged surface.     

Interface characteristics of thin liquid films in a charged lubricated contact

The interface characteristics of liquid films confined within a nanogap between a steel ball and a smooth glass disk after exposing to an external electric field (EEF) are reported in the paper. The emergence of micro‐bubbles induced by the EEF has been found to be closely related with the electric current flow at both a positive EEF and a negative EEF. The polarity effect of the variation in the electric current flowing through a polar liquid film over time is more pronounced than that through a nonpolar liquid film. The surface of the contacting pair with the polar liquid film confined after the removal of the EEF is more severely damaged at a negative EEF, while no indication of damage has been observed on the surface contacting the nonpolar liquid film at either polarity. The bubbles generated under a positive EEF can collapse more readily than those generated under a negative EEF. Different mechanisms of these experimental phenomena have been discussed in the paper. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Layer-to-layer adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes: The effect of molecular mass: 1. Formation of the first layer

The formation and properties of adsorption layers of poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) with different molecular masses on the surface of fused quartz are studied by the capillary electrokinetics method. It is shown that the value of ζ potential depends on the flow rate of liquid determined by the pressure drop. Such behavior can be explained by the deformation of the adsorption layer. At low rates of liquid flow, constant values of adsorption and time needed to achieve these values decrease for the samples of lower molecular masses, which is probably related to the more closely packed structure and, hence, to the lower deformability of the adsorption layers, as well as to the shortest times during which conformational rearrangements proceed in the layer. The time of conformational changes in the adsorption layer significantly exceeds the time of adsorption. The adsorption of cationic polyelectrolyte is irreversible. It is found that the compaction of adsorption layers increases with time; the rate of compaction of layers of a low-molecular-mass polyelectrolyte is higher and the layers of a high-molecular-mass polyelectrolyte retain the residual deformability even for six days. The measurements of the filtration of polyelectrolyte solutions through thin quartz capillaries allow the thickness of adsorption layers and their deformation under pressure to be estimated.     

Effect of pH on protein adsorption capacity of strong cation exchangers with grafted layer

The effect of pH on the static adsorption capacity of immunoglobulin G, human serum albumin, and equine myoglobin was investigated for a set of five strong cation exchangers with the grafted tentacle layer having a different ligand density. A sharp maximum of adsorption capacity with pH was observed for adsorbents with a high ligand density. The results were elucidated using the protein structure and calculations of pK(a) of ionizable groups of surface basic residues. Inverse size-exclusion experiments were carried out to understand the relation between the adsorption capacity and pore accessibility of the investigated proteins.     

Anisotropic adsorption of molecular assemblies on crystalline surfaces

Orientational order of surfactant micelles and proteins on crystalline templates has been observed but, given that the template unit cell is significantly smaller than the characteristic size of the adsorbate, this order cannot be attributed to lattice epitaxy. We interpret the template-directed orientation of rodlike molecular assemblies as arising from anisotropic van der Waals interactions between the assembly and crystalline surfaces where the anisotropic van der Waals interaction is calculated using the Lifshitz methodology. Provided the assembly is sufficiently large, substrate anisotropy provides a torque that overcomes rotational Brownian motion near the surface. The probability of a particular orientation is computed by solving a Smoluchowski equation that describes the balance between van der Waals and Brownian torques. Torque aligns both micelles and protein fibrils; the interaction energy is minimized when the assembly lies perpendicular to a symmetry axis of a crystalline substrate. Theoretical predictions agree with experiments for both hemi-cylindrical micelles and protein fibrils adsorbed on graphite.