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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

Study of Short Peptide Adsorption on Solution Dispersed Inorganic Nanoparticles Using Depletion Method
Published on: April 11, 2020
Adsorption of the antimicrobial peptide tritrpticin onto solid and liquid surfaces: Ion-specific effects
Luiz C Salay1, Denise F S Petri2, Clovis R Nakaie3
1Laboratory of Structural Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo-USP, São Paulo, São Paulo, C.P. 26077, 05513-970, Brazil; Department of Exact Sciences and Technology, State University of Santa Cruz-UESC, Ilhéus, Bahia 45662-900, Brazil.
Abstract:
Developing functional biointerfaces is important for technological applications. We investigated the interaction and adsorption of the antimicrobial peptide tritrpticin (VRRFPWWWPFLRR, TRP3) onto solid and liquid surfaces and the influence of ions on these processes by several techniques. Surface tension measurements showed that salt addition to TRP3 solution causes a high decrease of surface tension due to the adsorption of TRP3 at air-liquid surface. Ellipsometry studies show the TRP3 adsorption on silicon surfaces forming nanometric films that are able to further interact with liposomes. Contact angle measurements gave insight on the nature of thin film and its roughness. AFM shows the topology of the film on the solid substrates. In addition, those techniques also showed that anions can act as modulators on adsorption phenomena and are correlated with the Hofmeister series. The findings of the current work are relevant for the development of functional interfaces such as biocidal surfaces.
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