An Example of Theoretical Approaches in Polymer Hydrogels: Insights into the behavior of pH-responsive Nanofilms

GABRIEL S. LONGO

Polymer Science and Innovative Applications

Elsevier

Año: 2020; p. 229 - 256

Due to their self-regulating behavior, pH-responsive hydrogels are frequently considered in the development of functional biomaterials. A rational approach to designing new biomaterials imposes the need of understating of their interaction with protein solutions. On the basis of recent theoretical work, this chapter describes the adsorption of proteins and peptides to films of cross-linked pH-sensitive polymers. Particular emphasis is placed on the physical chemistry that emerges from the charge regulation properties of the hydrogel and proteins. As a result of spatial the confinement, the acidic units that compose the polymer network modify their protonation state as well as the composition of the surroundings; the local pH drops inside the hydrogel, increasing protein?s protonation upon adsorption. Having different amino acid residues that protonate or deprotonate under different conditions supplies the protein with degrees of freedom to modify its net charge and modulate the electrostatic interactions with the hydrogel that drive the adsorption. Tailoring the polymer network?s chemical composition allows to separate and localize specific components from multi-protein solutions using the pH