Figure 9.

A provocative representation of protein-adsorption theories positing that all such theories fall into one of two categories. The leftmost category collects all theories premised on the idea that adsorption is controlled by strong protein/surface interactions whereas the rightmost category collects all theories premised on the idea that the hydrophobic effect is the significant driving force underlying protein adsorption. Subscribers to the former category greatly outnumber the current subscription to the latter. Importantly, the left category has it that protein adsorption is complex at the molecular scale, requiring computations at the statistical-mechanics level to understand the essential biophysics of protein adsorption. By strong contrast, the right category has it that water (solvent) controls protein adsorption and, as a consequence, adsorption of blood proteins can be understood on a much more generic basis. Distinguishing between the two categories is important because most practical biomaterials problems are intractable at the molecular level. Group 1 type analytical methods (Section 3.1) reinforce adherence to the left category through a circular self-fulfilling prediction that protein adsorption is mediated by strong protein/surface interactions (see Section 4.5).