AFM investigation of molecular level events at biomaterial-biological interface

Interaction of water and proteins with biomaterials constitutes the first events occurring at the biomaterial/biological interface, and these events are believed to guide further responses. In this study we report two aspects of these initial events as studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). First the time dependent conformational changes in fibrinogen adsorbed on a model hydrophobic biomaterial (graphite) and second, the morphological changes in poly(urethane urea) associated with hydration.