Ordering in fibrinogen layers: a numerical study

Ordered protein layers are the subject of active biomedical research for their usually interesting physicochemical properties, e.g. permeability, stiffness and pours structure. In the present work, we focused on layers build of fibrinogen molecules characterized by strong shape anisotropy. Using Random Sequential Adsorption (RSA) method, we simulated adsorption process in which the orientation of adsorbate was described by a non-uniform probability distribution. Covering layers obtained this way had different level of global orientational ordering. This allowed us to find relationship between main properties of layers, such as maximal random coverage ratio, and order parameter. For better description and deeper understanding of the obtained structures, the autocorrelation function as well as the distribution of uncovered space were determined. Additionally, we calculated the Available Surface Function (ASF), which is essential for determining adsorption kinetics.