Protein Adsorption into Mesopores: A Combination of Electrostatic Interaction, Counterion Release, and van der Waals Forces

Bovine heart cytochrome c has been immobilized into the mesoporous silica host material SBA-15 in both its native folded and urea-unfolded state. The comparison of the two folding states' behavior casts doubt on the commonly used explanation of cytochrome c adsorption, that is, the electrostatic interaction model. A detailed investigation of the protein binding as a function of pH and ionic strength of the buffer solution reveals the complex nature of the protein silica interaction. Electrostatic interaction, van der Waals forces, and entropic contributions by counterion release each contribute to adsorption on the silica pore walls.