Biospecificity of glass surfaces: streptavidin attachment to silica

An investigation of biomolecular attachment to silicate glass surfaces as a function of forming and composition has been carried out. This paper concentrates on the modes of forming for one composition: silica, and on one biomolecular species: streptavidin. The relative sensitivity measurements associated with biomolecular characterization of the glass surface are discussed. The results show that streptavidin is sensitive to the forming conditions of silica and is sensitive to variation in surface treatment. The binding data suggest that the molecular attachment occurs through the OH species bound to the silica surface and it is hypothesized that this attachment occurs by hydrogen bonding.