CONTROLLING THE ADSORPTION OF PROTEINS ON POLY(P-XYLYLENE) POLYMERIC THIN FILMS
Open Access
Author:
Anderson, Michael K
Graduate Program:
Engineering Science
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
March 29, 2010
Committee Members:
Melik C Demirel, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Melik C Demirel, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
QCM Protein Adsorption BSA Nanoporous Parylene
Abstract:
In order to control the interactions of biomolecules and surfaces, first the adsorption of proteins to that surface must be controlled. This study investigates the use of poly(p-xylylene) (PPX), a polymer with the capacity for design on the nanoscale, as a way of controlling protein adsorption. By altering the morphology and thus the surface area of the polymer, protein adsorption is able to be controlled in a predictable fashion. This study also looks at the use Quartz Crystal Microbalance to measure frequency shift and resistance and thus to gain information on the protein adsorption and the character of such adsorption. Protein adsorption data is reported for a model protein (i.e., Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)) on three different morphologies of PPX. Due to ~420% and ~450% increases respectively in surface area over planar PPX, helical and columnar samples of PPX enhance protein adsorption affinity by ~800% and ~700% respectively over planar PPX.
