Molecular rearrangement of metal-chelating lipid monolayers upon protein adsorption

Myoglobin-directed assemblies of binary monolayers functionalized with iminodiacetic acid ligands at the air-water interface through metal coordination for multivalent protein binding

Myoglobin binding to the binary monolayers composed of sodium hexadecylimino diacetate and hexadecanol at the air-water interface by means of metal coordination has been investigated using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). In the absence of Cu(2+), no myoglobin binding to the binary monolayers was observed. In the presence of Cu(2+), remarkable myoglobin binding to the binary monolayers resulted from the formation of ternary complexes of iminodiacetate (IDA)-Cu(2+)-surface histidine. Myoglobin-directed assemblies of the binary monolayers facilitated multivalent protein binding through lateral rearrangements of the IDA ligands and reorientations of the alkyl chains for enhanced protein binding. Myoglobin binding to and desorption from the binary monolayers could be readily controlled through metal coordination.

Thin film assembly of spider silk-like block copolymers

We report the self-assembly of monolayers of spider silk-like block copolymers. Langmuir isotherms were obtained for a series of bioengineered variants of the spider silks, and stable monolayers were generated. Langmuir-Blodgett films were prepared by transferring the monolayers onto silica substrates and were subsequently analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Static contact angle measurements were performed to characterize interactions across the interface (thin film, water, air), and molecular modeling was used to predict 3D conformation of spider silk-like block copolymers. The influence of molecular architecture and volume fraction of the proteins on the self-assembly process was assessed. At high surface pressure, spider silk-like block copolymers with minimal hydrophobic block (f(A) = 12%) formed oblate structures, whereas block copolymer with a 6-fold larger hydrophobic domain (f(A) = 46%) formed prolate structures. The varied morphologies obtained with increased hydrophobicity offer new options for biomaterials for coatings and related options. The design and use of bioengineered protein block copolymers assembled at air-water interfaces provides a promising approach to compare 2D microstructures and molecular architectures of these amphiphiles, leading to more rationale designs for a range of nanoengineered biomaterial needs as well as providing a basis of comparison to more traditional synthetic block copolymer systems.