Study of bovine serum albumin interaction with zinc oxide surfaces by force field simulations

Abstract We studied the interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecule with ZnO surfaces by force field simulations. The different orientations of BSA over the two main nonpolar wurtzite ZnO surfaces (10 1 ¯ 0) and (11 1 ¯ 0) have been investigated. These surfaces contain both Zn and O atoms. We compare the results also with polar Zn-face (0001) surface. The results demonstrate tendency of BSA molecule for being adsorbed on the ZnO surface in specific orientations. This happens either by bonding between a hydrogen atom of BSA molecule to an oxygen atom of the ZnO surface or by physical attraction inducing ZnO atoms displacement in some cases.