Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 1: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems I (joint BP, DY)

BP 1.7: Talk

Monday, March 22, 2010, 12:00–12:15, H45

A Colloidal Approach to Protein Adsorption — •Olaf Leidinger and Ludger Santen — Fachrichtung Theoretische Physik, Universität des Saarlandes

We investigate the unspecific adsorption of proteins, which are modeled as polydisperse colloidal particles. The particle-particle interactions are described in the framework of the DLVO theory, including steric repulsion, electrostatic and van der Waals interactions. Furthermore we introduce internal degrees of freedom representing different conformations of the model proteins at the surface.

By means of extensive Monte Carlo simulations we reproduce the experimentally observed characteristics of the biofilm-formation[1,2]. The adsorption kinetics can be divided into three intervals: Initially the adsorption is limited by the flux of particles to the surface. At low concentrations the proteins spread at the surface in order to optimize the binding to the surface. At higher concentrations the adsorbed proteins are compacted due to particle-particle interactions and finally the surface coverage saturates. These dynamical regimes can be identified in experimental and theoretical investigations of the adsorbed amount. The comparison between experimentally and theoretically generated biofilms is completed by a detailed analysis of the point patterns connected to the adsorbed particles, which is carried out by means of integral measures.

[1] A. Quinn et al 2008 EPL 81 56003 (6pp)

[2] M Bellion et al 2008 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 20 404226 (11pp)