title: Tunable protein-resistance of polycation-terminated polyelectrolyte multilayers.
abstract: The prevention of nonspecific protein adsorption is a crucial prerequisite for many biomedical and biotechnological applications. Therefore, the design of robust and versatile methods conferring optimal protein-resistance properties to surfaces has become a challenging issue. Here we report the unexpected case of polycation-ending polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) that efficiently prevented the adsorption of a negatively charged model protein, glucose oxidase (GOX). PEM films were based on two typical weak poyelectrolytes: poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). No chemical modification of the polyelectrolytes was required and tunable GOX adsorption was possible by simply changing the buildup pH conditions. Protein-resistance properties are attributed to high film hydration becoming the predominant factor over electrostatic interactions. We explain this effect by oscillations of the internal PAA ionization state throughout the buildup, which results in an excess of carboxylic acid groups within the film. This excess acts as a reservoir of potential carboxylate groups compensating the outer PAH positive charges. Partial results indicated that the system was also resistant to the adsorption of a positively charged protein, lysozyme. Control of the internal ionization of weak polyelectrolyte multilayers might open a route toward simple tuning of protein adsorption. These results should help to rationalize the design of biomaterials, biosensors, or protein separation devices.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Department, IPICYT, 78216 San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tristán
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palestino
authors.forename: J-Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Menchaca
authors.forename: Elías
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atmani
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuisinier
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ladam
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005949:Glucose Oxidase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D005949:Glucose Oxidase; D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes