Borg Peptide Solid Surface Interface Publications
A peptide-stainless steel reaction that yields a new bioorganic-metal state of matter
Authors
Elisabeth M Davis, Dong-Yang Li, Randall T Irvin
Details
Abstract
A synthetic peptide derived from the native protein sequence of a metal binding bacterial pilus was observed to spontaneously react with stainless steel via a previously unreported type of chemical interaction to generate an altered form of stainless steel which we term bioorganic stainless steel. Bioorganic stainless steel has a significantly increased electron work function (4.9 ± 0.05 eV compared to 4.79 ± 0.07 eV), decreased material adhesive force (19.4 ± 8.8 nN compared to 56.7 ± 10.5 nN), and is significantly harder than regular 304 stainless steel (~40% harder). A formal or semi-formal organo-metallic covalent bond is generated between a pilin receptor binding domain and stainless ...
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilin receptor binding domain functions as an adhesin for both biotic and abiotic surfaces
Authors
Carmen L. Giltner, Erin J. Van Schaik, Gerald F. Audette, Dan Kao, Robert S. Hodges, Daniel J. Hassett, Randall T. Irvin
Details
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa readily binds to stainless steel and other abiotic surfaces, causing major problems in both the medical and food industries. In this study, we show that P. aeruginosa binds to abiotic surfaces in a concentration-dependent, saturable manner during the initial stages of biofilm formation. P. aeruginosa type IV pili mediate binding to stainless steel as a pilus-deficient strain does not bind to steel, purified type IV pili bound in a concentration-dependent, saturable manner, and purified pili competitively inhibited whole cell binding. PAK pili can also bind polystyrene and polyvinylchloride in a concentration-dependant and saturable manner ...