title: On the thermodynamics of biomolecule surface transformations.
abstract: Biological surface science is receiving great and renewed attention owing the rising interest in applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology to biological systems, with horizons that range from nanomedicine and biomimetic photosynthesis to the unexpected effects of nanomaterials on health and environment. Biomolecule surface transformations are among the fundamental aspects of the field that remain elusive so far and urgently need to be understood to further the field. Our recent findings indicate that surface thermodynamics can give a substantial contribution toward this challenging goal. In the first part of the article, we show that biomolecule surface transformations can be framed by a general and simple thermodynamic model. Then, we explore its effectiveness by addressing some typical cases, including ligand-receptor surface binding, protein thin film machines, nanomechanical aspects of the biomolecule-nanoparticle interface and nanomechanical biosensors.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory and INSTM, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maiolo
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Depero
authors.forename: Italo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergese
mesh_terms: D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008956:Models, Chemical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012996:Solutions