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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Sample Preparation in Quartz Crystal Microbalance Measurements of Protein Adsorption and Polymer Mechanics
Published on: January 22, 2020
Protein Adsorption and Coordination-Based End-Tethering of Functional Polymers on Metal-Phenolic Network Films
Blaise L Tardy1, Joseph J Richardson1, Vichida Nithipipat1
1ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical Engineering , The University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3010 , Australia.
Abstract:
Metal-phenolic network (MPN) coatings have generated increasing interest owing to their biologically inspired nature, facile fabrication, and near-universal adherence, especially for biomedical applications. However, a key issue in biomedicine is protein fouling, and the adsorption of proteins on tannic acid-based MPNs remains to be comprehensively studied. Herein, we investigate the interaction of specific biomedically relevant proteins in solution (e.g., bovine serum albumin (BSA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), fibrinogen) and complex biological media (serum) using layer-by-layer-assembled tannic acid/FeIII MPN films. When FeIII was the outermost layer, galloyl-modified poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (P(EtOx)-Gal) could be grafted to the films through coordination bonds. Protein fouling and bacterial adhesion were greatly suppressed after functionalization with P(EtOx)-Gal and the mass of adsorbed protein was reduced by 79%. Interestingly, larger proteins adsorbed more on both the MPNs and P(EtOx)-functionalized MPNs. This study provides fundamental information on the interactions of MPNs with single proteins, mixtures of proteins as encountered in serum, and the noncovalent, coordination-based, functionalization of MPN films.
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