SURFACE INTERACTIONS WITH ADSORBED MACROMOLECULES

Surface interactions, as revealed by surface force studies between mica sheets in 0. 1-0. 2 M KNO//3 aqueous electrolyte, are critically examined for three different types of macromolecules adsorbed on the surfaces: flexible uncharged polymer, flexible charged polyelectrolyte, and rigid rod protein. Aspects of specific and nonspecific effects, such as surface conformation, the origin of repulsive interactions and the possibility of attractive bridging, as well as the question of equilibrium and reversibility for such adsorbed macromolecular layers, are compared and contrasted.