Building a working understanding of protein adsorption with model systems and serendipity

• Research with bacteriophage T4 lysozyme is reviewed.
• Research with protein drug stabilization is reviewed.
• Research on imparting antimicrobial activity to surfaces is reviewed.
• Connection with translation of research to practice is made.

Here we will consider a working understanding of protein adsorption to be one that is adequate for practical use. Serendipity will be considered as a resource that can be used along with model systems in order to build such a working understanding. In particular, the term refers to a preparedness on the part of the researcher to make connections between a variety of everyday inputs from sources in and outside of the main concerns of the research, and a willingness to apply those connections toward the broader utility and impact of the work. In this paper we summarize the highlights and major conclusions of our work with proteins at interfaces – gained by use of comparatively very simple experimental systems while harnessing luck as effectively as we could along the way – and its relevance to meeting challenges in biopharma and biomedical technology.

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