Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 May 2012
When a biomaterial is implanted into the body, blood proteins adsorb on itssurface and subsequently cells adhere via the protein adlayer. Thus, theunderstanding of protein adsorption and conformational change on thebiomaterial surfaces is of great importance to control the biocompatibilitysuch as antithrombotic properties and cell adhesion behaviors. In thisstudy, we synthesized hydroxyapatite (HAp) and carbonate apatite (CAp) by awet method. Then we successfully fabricated the HAp and CAp sensors forQCM-R by an electrophoretic deposition method. Adsorption behavior ofproteins on the bone substitute material can be monitored by using theseapatite sensors. Bovine serum albumin and fibrinogen were employed for themodel proteins, and monitored the adsorption behavior on the HAp, CAp andreference gold (Au) sensors by the QCM-R technique. As a result, we revealedthat fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin adsorbs on the gold surface byhydrophobic interaction, and adsorbs on the HAp and CAp surfaces mainly byelectrostatic force. Besides, we revealed that fibrinogen adsorbs on the Ausurface more rigid than on the HAp and CAp surfaces while bovine serumalbumin adsorbs on the HAp and CAp surface more rigidly than on the Ausurface.