Experimental and computational techniques to investigate the protein resistance of zwitterionic polymers

Abstract

Most surfaces undergo non-specific protein adsorption upon direct contact with protein-containing environments, resulting in the formation of a protein corona, and the nature and composition of the corona affect the properties of the material. Zwitterionic polymers have oppositely charged groups in their repeating units, which facilitate the formation of a hydration layer on the surface through electrostatic interactions. The hydration layer possesses a strong water-binding ability and can prevent protein adsorption. Therefore, the hydration effect of zwitterionic polymers has become a research focus, and many researchers have investigated this mechanism using experimental and computational methods. This paper reviews the experimental techniques and simulation methods to study the hydration effect of zwitterionic polymers and the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques are discussed.