Abstract
Replica mean field theory is used to study the effect of solvent interactions on the adsorption of random heteropolymers onto heterogeneous surfaces. Random heteropolymers have been shown to undergo a pattern-matching adsorption transition, typified by a sharp transition from weak to strong adsorption on specific heterogeneous surfaces. It is found that polymers with higher excluded volume (good solvent) require higher surface site loadings to undergo the sharp adsorption transition. Furthermore, the final adsorbed polymer fraction is lower for high excluded volume polymers. This information can be used, for example, to design tailor-made membranes that prevent or allow for specific interactions with such protein-like molecules. Studies have shown that solution conditions often play an important role in determining the fouling of membranes by proteins. The results presented in this work may be important in directing applications involving the undesirable adsorption of proteins and other macromolecules that lead to the irreversible fouling of membranes.
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