Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

14:18
Synthesis, Assembly, and Characterization of Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoparticle Films for Protein Monolayer Electrochemistry
Published on: October 4, 2011
Layer-by-layer enzyme/polyelectrolyte films as a functional protective barrier in oxidizing media
Tatsiana G Shutava1, Dinesh S Kommireddy, Yuri M Lvov
1Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana 71272, USA. shutova@ichnm.basnet.by
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|July 27, 2006
Summary
Placing a catalase layer on top of hemoglobin films protects hemoglobin from hydrogen peroxide degradation. This strategy enhances film stability in aggressive environments.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Enzyme Immobilization
Background:
- Layer-by-layer assembly is a versatile technique for creating functional thin films.
- Hemoglobin-based films are susceptible to degradation by reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide.
- Catalase is an enzyme that efficiently decomposes hydrogen peroxide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of catalase layer placement within multilayer films on hemoglobin stability.
- To evaluate the efficacy of catalase in protecting hemoglobin from hydrogen peroxide-induced degradation.
- To compare the protective effect of catalase with other agents.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of (hemoglobin/polystyrene sulfonate) films with varying catalase layer positions using layer-by-layer assembly.
- Exposure of films to hydrogen peroxide solutions of different concentrations.
- Monitoring of hemoglobin degradation kinetics and hydrogen peroxide decomposition.
- Comparative analysis with protamine, horseradish peroxidase, and inactivated catalase.
Main Results:
- The catalase layer exhibits highest activity in hydrogen peroxide decomposition when positioned at the top of the multilayer film.
- Hemoglobin within the films retains its native structure for a longer duration when the catalase layer is on the exterior.
- The outer placement of the active catalase layer provides optimal protection for the film.
Conclusions:
- Positioning an active catalase layer as the outermost layer is the most effective strategy for protecting layer-by-layer assembled films in aggressive media.
- This approach enhances the stability and longevity of hemoglobin-based films in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
- The findings offer valuable insights for designing robust biomaterial interfaces and protective coatings.
Related Concept Videos
Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.LipidsThe most...
What are Membranes?
A key characteristic of life is the ability to separate the external environment from the internal space. To do this, cells have evolved semi-permeable membranes that regulate the passage of biological molecules. Additionally, the cell membrane defines a cell’s shape and interactions with the external environment. Eukaryotic cell membranes also serve to compartmentalize the internal space into organelles, including the endomembrane structures of the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi...
What are Membranes?
A cell's plasma membrane demarcates the cell's borders and determines the nature of its interaction with the environment. Cells exclude certain substances, take in others, and excrete some others in controlled quantities. The plasma membrane must be flexible to allow certain cells, such as red and white blood cells, to change their shape while passing through narrow capillaries. These are the more obvious plasma membrane functions. In addition, the plasma membrane's surface carries markers that...
Fluid Mosaic Model
Scientists identified the plasma membrane in the 1890s and its principal chemical components (lipids and proteins) by 1915. The model for plasma membrane structure, proposed in 1935 by Hugh Davson and James Danielli, was the first model to be widely accepted in the scientific community. The model was based on the plasma membrane's "railroad track" appearance in early electron micrographs. Davson and Danielli theorized that the plasma membrane's structure resembled a sandwich with the analogy of...
What are Membranes?
A cell's plasma membrane demarcates the cell's borders and determines the nature of its interaction with the environment. Cells exclude certain substances, take in others, and excrete some others in controlled quantities. The plasma membrane must be flexible to allow certain cells, such as red and white blood cells, to change their shape while passing through narrow capillaries. These are the more obvious plasma membrane functions. In addition, the plasma membrane's surface carries markers that...
Surface Membrane Barriers
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

