Insights into the interactions of amino acids and peptides with inorganic materials using single molecule force spectroscopy

Understanding the interactions between proteins and inorganic surfaces is important for the development of new biomaterials and implants as they interface with the immune response by proteins. In addition, the adsorption of proteins to inorganic surfaces leads to the formation of a conditioning layer that facilitates bacterial attachments and biofilm formation. As biofilm provides bacterial resistance to antibiotics, biofilm formation is an undesirable process that could be prevented by resisting protein interactions with the substrate. Moreover, the interaction between proteins and inorganic materials is the basis for the formation of composite materials in nature. Understanding the underlying forces that governs these interactions would lead to the design of new and unique composite materials in vitro. This review focuses on the insights gained using single-molecule force spectroscopy by AFM on these interactions. This tool provides molecular information, at the single molecule level, on the interaction between a molecule on the AFM tip and a substrate.