Probing Molecular Interactions between Barnacle Peptides and Polymers to Understand Bioadhesion.

Biofouling poses a significant issue in the maritime industry, where the attachment of biofoulants to ships greatly affects operational costs, surface durability, and marine pollution. Barnacles and barnacle proteins are widely used as models to study the biofouling mechanisms. With a combined experimental and simulation approach, this study elucidated the molecular interaction mechanisms between barnacle cement-derived peptides (BCPs) and a polymer.

Determination of protein conformation and orientation at buried solid/liquid interfaces.

Protein structures at solid/liquid interfaces mediate interfacial protein functions, which are important for many applications. It is difficult to probe interfacial protein structures at buried solid/liquid interfaces at the molecular level. Here, a systematic methodology to determine protein molecular structures (orientation and conformation) at buried solid/liquid interfaces was successfully developed with a combined approach using a nonlinear optical spectroscopic technique - sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, isotope labeling, spectra calculation, and computer simulation.

Strong Surface Hydration and Salt Resistant Mechanism of a New Nonfouling Zwitterionic Polymer Based on Protein Stabilizer TMAO.

Zwitterionic polymers exhibit excellent nonfouling performance due to their strong surface hydrations. However, salt molecules may severely reduce the surface hydrations of typical zwitterionic polymers, making the application of these polymers in real biological and marine environments challenging. Recently, a new zwitterionic polymer brush based on the protein stabilizer trimethylamine -oxide (TMAO) was developed as an outstanding nonfouling material.

Molecular Structure of the Surface-Immobilized Super Uranyl Binding Protein.

Recently, a super uranyl binding protein (SUP) was developed, which exhibits excellent sensitivity/selectivity to bind uranyl ions. It can be immobilized onto a surface in sensing devices to detect uranyl ions. Here, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was applied to probe the interfacial structures of surface-immobilized SUP.

Strong Hydration at the Poly(ethylene glycol) Brush/Albumin Solution Interface.

Albumin molecules are extensively used as biocompatible coatings, and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) materials are widely used for antifouling. PEG materials have excellent antifouling property because of their strong surface hydration. Our previous research indicates that hydration at the PEG/bovine serum albumin solution interface is stronger than that at the PEG/water interface.