Protein Adsorption and Conformational Changes

Dear Colleagues,

Protein adsorption to solids, nanomaterials, and biological surfaces is of central interest in many fields, including biomedicine, bioanalytical chemistry, materials engineering, bio-nanotechnology, as well as basic biomolecular research. Although protein adsorption may sometimes occur with little consequence on molecular structure, interactions with surfaces frequently cause changes in local or global conformations and dynamics, perturbations to secondary structures or tertiary folds, eventually resulting in dramatically altered protein function. Importantly, surfaces may trigger protein misfolding and self-aggregation, or, conversely, promote protein structure formation. The use of nanoscale surfaces to remodel the conformational landscape and the aggregation pathways of amyloidogenic peptides and proteins has been proposed as a promising strategy against several severe human diseases. The rapid growth of applications and technological innovation which is based on or concerned with protein adsorption necessitates renewed efforts to provide molecular level insight into adsorption-induced protein structural perturbations.

In this Special Issue, we aim to gather the most recent findings of experimental and computational investigations that contribute novel insight into protein adsorption with a focus on structural and dynamic aspects. Special emphasis will be placed on observations obtained with advanced technologies and approaches, on integrated experimental measurements/computational methods, submolecular level and biomolecular exchange studies, theoretical modeling, novel features of protein conformational landscapes, and the molecular basis of surface-mediated protein conformational transitions.

We welcome submissions of original research and reviews that address some aspect of the Special Issue’s theme.

Prof. Dr. Michael Assfalg
Guest Editor

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