Controlled protein adsorption on a silica microparticle

Abstract

In the present study, controlled protein adsorption on a rigid silica microparticle is investigated numerically using classical Langmuir and two‐state models under electrokinetic flow conditions. The instantaneous particle locations are simulated along a straight microchannel using an arbitrary Lagrangian−Eulerian framework in the finite element method for the electrophoretic motion of the charged particle. Within the scope of the parametric study, the strength of the external electric field (E), particle diameter (Dp), the zeta potential of the particle (ζp), and the location of the microparticle away from the channel wall (H) are systematically varied. The results are also compared to the data of pressure‐driven flow having a parabolic flow profile at the inlet whose maximum magnitude is set to the particle's electrophoretic velocity magnitude. The validation studies reveal that the code developed for the particle motion in the present simulations agrees well with the experimental results. It is observed that protein adsorption can be controlled using electrokinetic phenomena. The plug‐like flow profile in electrokinetics is beneficial for a microparticle at every spatial location in the microchannel, whereas it is not valid for the pressure‐driven flow. The electric field strength and the zeta potential of the particle accelerate the protein adsorption. The wall shear stress and shear rate are good indicators to predict the adsorption process for electrokinetic flow.

Protein adsorption on a nanoparticle with a nanostructured surface

“…In nanotechnology, the interaction between the nanoparticle's surface and the protein is gathered a vast amount of attention due to the availability of a broad range of applications, such as enzyme immobilization [1], drug delivery [2], and targeting [3]. The dominant process is adsorption during this interaction, which is the bonding of atoms, ions, and molecules either physically or chemically [4]. It should be emphasized that the surface properties of an NP, which are chemistry, electrical charge, geometry, and roughness, play a vital role in the development of this mechanism.…”