Author(s)

Ludovic Richert, Abdessamad Boukari, Simon Berner, Michel Dard, Joseph Hemmerlé

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The interaction of proteins with solid surfaces is a fundamental phenomenon in the biomaterials field. We investigated, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), the interactions of a recombinant amelogenin with titanium, a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and mica. The unbinding processes were compared to those of an earlier studied protein, namely fibrinogen. Force spectroscopy (AFM) experiments were carried out at 0 ms, 102 ms, 103 ms and 104 ms of contact time. In general, the rupture forces increased as a function of interaction time. The unbinding forces of amelogenin interacting with the BCP surface were always stronger than those of the amelogenin-titanium system. The unbinding forces of fibrinogen interacting with the BCP surface were always much stronger than those of the fibrinogen-titanium system. For the most part, this study provides direct evidence that recombinant amelogenin binds more strongly than fibrinogen on the studied substrates.

Amelogenin, Titanium, Calcium phosphate; Force-mode AFM

L. Richert, A. Boukari, S. Berner, M. Dard and J. Hemmerlé, "Unbinding Process of Amelogenin and Fibrinogen Adsorbed on Different Solid Surfaces Using AFM," Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, Vol. 2 No. 3, 2011, pp. 244-249. doi: 10.4236/jbnb.2011.23031.