Electrochemical Investigations of the Interfacial Behavior of Proteins

A number of studies have been made on the interaction of proteins with solid surfaces in an attempt to determine the molecular conformation or orientation of the adsorbed molecules. This interest in the interfacial behavior of proteins at solid surfaces originates from the need to better understand the mechanisms of processes associated with their use in advanced technical applications and industrial problems. The use of immobilized enzymes in analytical techniques in biotechnology and in chromatography requires knowledge of the interfacial behavior of proteins. Adsorption of proteins and enzymes on various kinds of adsorbents is widely used for the purification, identification, fixation, and separation of these materials.1 The interaction of proteins with solid surfaces causes major problems in many industrial and medical areas, such as the “fouling” of surfaces in the food processing industry and in medical implant devices and biosensors, as well as microbial growth due to protein adhesion to surfaces. The mechanism of protein interactions with surfaces of artificial materials as well as the ability to control these processes are of great interest for such areas as molecular electronics, biometrics, biocompatible materials, drug release systems, and immunoassays.2