Adsorption of NGF and BDNF derived peptides on gold surfaces

This study tackles the interaction between gold surfaces and two peptide fragments named NGF(1-14) and BDNF(1-12), able to mimic the proliferative activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), respectively. The physical adsorption processes at the solid surface from both single and binary peptide solutions, at physiological and acid pH, were investigated by QCM-D and CD experiments, as well as by molecular dynamics calculations. The relevant physicochemical properties at the hybrid bio-interface, including peptide-surface interaction, conformational changes, hydrodynamic thickness, viscoelastic parameters, competitive vs. synergic behaviour of the two peptide fragments towards the surface were scrutinized. Biological assays with neuronal cells pointed to the maintenance in the biological activity of NGF(1-14) and BDNF(1-12) peptide molecules within the adlayers on the gold surface.