Control of interface interactions between natural rubber and solid surfaces through charge effects: an AFM study in force spectroscopic mode

Abstract

This work presents a detailed investigation of interface interactions between natural rubber (NR) particles and solid surfaces in aqueous medium at high ionic strength (0.1 M) using AFM in fast force spectroscopy mode. In this study, an original method for fixing the NR on the substrate was developed. This avoided the usual perturbations common in standard immobilization techniques. We proved that the adhesion process of the NR is monitored by slight changes in the surface charge state of the contacting solid surfaces made of silicon oxide or silicon nitride. The results were interpreted using Dynamic Force Spectroscopy theory, with the introduction of a supplementary term describing the electrostatic energy. Furthermore, these experiments revealed that adhesion between NR and tip was time dependent in a cumulative process. In addition, an increase of the adhesion between NR and AFM tip with the size of the rubber particles was measured. This was related to the higher concentration in lipids versus proteins for larger NR particles. These results are of great importance both for practical applications in solution-based industrial processes and to the fundamental knowledge of adhesion process involved for biopolymers or living cells.