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Controlled protein adsorption on a silica microparticle
Cetin Canpolat1, Mehmet Melih Tatlisoz1
1Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
Electrophoresis
|March 4, 2021
Summary
Controlled protein adsorption on microparticles can be achieved using electrokinetic flow. This method offers advantages over pressure-driven flow, with electric field strength and zeta potential accelerating the adsorption process.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Protein adsorption onto microparticles is crucial in various biomedical and industrial applications.
- Understanding and controlling this adsorption process is essential for optimizing performance and preventing unwanted outcomes.
- Electrokinetic phenomena offer a potential mechanism for manipulating particle behavior and surface interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate the controlled protein adsorption on silica microparticles under electrokinetic flow conditions.
- To analyze the influence of electric field strength, particle properties, and position on adsorption.
- To compare electrokinetic flow with pressure-driven flow for protein adsorption control.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations using an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian framework within the finite element method.
- Modeling of electrophoretic motion of charged silica microparticles.
- Application of classical Langmuir and two-state models for protein adsorption.
- Parametric variation of electric field strength, particle diameter, zeta potential, and distance from the channel wall.
Main Results:
- Electrokinetic flow enables controlled protein adsorption on microparticles.
- The plug-like flow profile in electrokinetics is advantageous for microparticle behavior across all channel locations.
- Increased electric field strength and particle zeta potential accelerate protein adsorption.
- Wall shear stress and shear rate effectively predict the adsorption process in electrokinetic flow.
Conclusions:
- Electrokinetic phenomena provide an effective means to control protein adsorption on microparticles.
- The findings highlight the benefits of electrokinetic flow profiles for microparticle manipulation in microchannels.
- Electric field parameters are key to modulating the rate of protein adsorption.

