Competitive adsorption of human serum albumin and gamma-globulin from a binary protein mixture onto hexadecyltrichlorosilane coated glass.

The kinetics of competitive adsorption of proteins onto hexadecyltrichlorosilane coated glass (HTS-glass) from model solutions containing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled human serum albumin (HSA-FITC) and gamma-globulin (HGG-FITC) were studied by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy. The processes of displacement of HSA-FITC by HGG are independent of the conformational state of HSA adsorbed onto glass. On HTS-glass, displacement of protein is hindered by the presence of large numbers of CH3-terminated alkyl tails which induce conformational (reorientational) changes in HSA-FITC and HGG-FITC adsorbed from simple solutions. In contrast to HSA, adsorption of HGG onto HTS-glass from a simple solution is characterized by the absence of irreversible adsorption in the initial portion of the kinetic curve. Competition between HSA and HGG-FITC induces replacement of end-on adsorbed HGG-FITC on HTS-glass surface with subsequent desorption of the HGG-FITC into solution. Upon further increase in the HSA concentration in solution the competition of HSA for adsorption sites prevails, which leads to a decrease in the amount of adsorbed HGG-FITC and, consequently, to a decrease in the rate of its displacement.

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity studies of human serum albumin adsorption onto functionalized surfaces of self-assembled monolayers.

Neutron and X-ray reflectivity (NR and XR) have been widely used for the investigation of the structure of thin organic films. Here we demonstrate how these sensitive techniques may be applied to the study of protein adsorption to well-characterized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with different chemical functionalities. NR can be used for in situ study, while XR provides complementary information on the initial surfaces and dried layers measured in air after protein has been adsorbed. In situ measurements of adsorption of human serum albumin onto a hydrophilic NH2-terminated monolayer clearly show the presence of a thin layer of adsorbed protein next to the SAM. Adsorption of albumin onto a hydrophobic, deuterated, CD3-terminated SAM causes even bigger changes in the NR. Upon replacing the protein solution with protein-free buffer solution, the reflectivities from both kinds of monolayers do not change, demonstrating that the albumin adsorption is irreversible after several hours of contact with the protein solution. X-ray reflectivity measurements of dried substrates performed ex situ in air provide a lower bound estimate of the amount of protein which must be at the interface in situ. This combination of techniques provides a uniquely sensitive approach for studying changes that occur upon protein adsorption at an interface.

[Factual nutrition and several indicators of health status of urban schoolchildren of the regions of Ukraine]. / Fakticheskoe pitanie i nekotorye pokazateli sostoianiia zdorov'ia gorodskikh shkol'nikov riada oblastei Ukrainy.

Altogether 2334 schoolchildren (first-, fifth- and eighth-graders) were examined for the factual nutrition, health status and physical development. The diet received by the schoolgirls of the above grades and that of the first-grade boys correlated well with the recommended physiological standards, whereas the diet of the eight-grade boys and five-grade boys in particular was slightly lower as compared to those standards. Attention is drawn to an ever increasing number of obese children, which has an adverse effect on the percentage of harmoniously developed children, reducing it to 66.7%. To improve the nutrition of schoolchildren, the authors have developed sets of foods and exemplary menus which have been included into the methodological instructions for organization of schoolchildren's catering in nonspecialized schools of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.