Understanding Interfacial Interactions between Naturally Occurring Zwitterionic Materials and Proteins

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

The ability to control of interfacial interactions is important for the efficacy of drug/gene delivery, the protection of therapeutic proteins, the performance of surface-based diagnostic devices and the bio-compatibility of implantable materials. It is particularly tricky to develop non-fouling materials that can preserve the bioactivity of proteins at the same time. The novelty of the proposed research is focused on non-fouling, enzyme stabilizing interfacial interactions of naturally occurring poly-zwitterions and proteins. This proposal seeks to address critical structure-property relations, e.g. ion separation distances, hydration and counter-charge distibution and their relation to enzyme stability. If successful, such a broader understanding of zwitterionic materials could provide guidance towards novel building blocks for better multifunctional materials, and could have impact on the field of biomaterials and biointerfaces.