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Updated: May 24, 2026

Covalent Immobilization of Proteins for the Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy
Published on: August 20, 2018
Disentangling protein-silica interactions
Lara Giussani1, Gloria Tabacchi, Enrica Gianotti
1Dipartimento Chimica IFM and Centro di Eccellenza NIS, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy.
Abstract:
We present the results of modelling studies aimed at the understanding of the interaction of a 7 nm sized water droplet containing a negatively charged globular protein with flat silica surfaces. We show how the droplet interaction with the surface depends on the electrostatic surface charge, and that adhesion of the droplet occurs when the surface is negatively charged as well. The key role of water and of the charge-balancing counter ions in mediating the surface-protein adhesion is highlighted. The relevance of the present results with respect to the production of bioinorganic hybrids via encapsulation of proteins inside mesoporous silica materials is discussed.
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