Interfacial Chemistry and Corrosion of Alloys in Protein-rich Environments

我们的整个生物圈充满了金属-蛋白质界面：人体内的植入材料、接触锅的食物、海洋环境中的金属表面，以及基于蛋白质的药物的生产都是这些界面的几个例子。蛋白质能迅速吸附在金属表面。在某些情况下，这可能会导致金属的腐蚀(降解)。我是国际公认的蛋白质引起的金属腐蚀方面的专家，现已移居加拿大。我已经证明，蛋白质、有机酸和氨基酸在许多金属的降解中起着重要作用，包括常用的种植合金。降解需要生物分子的吸附以及表面吸附和溶液生物分子的交换。我的研究计划的长期愿景是促进对涉及蛋白质的金属和合金的界面化学和腐蚀过程的理解。在接下来的5年里，我的研究小组将确定特定生物分子(氨基酸、肽或蛋白质)的官能团特性、结构、电荷和疏水性在腐蚀过程中的作用。在我的监督下，HQP将使用电化学、表面分析和溶液分析方法对金属和蛋白质及其组成部分之间的相互作用进行详细的调查。重点将放在三种生物医学合金上，碳钢(一种重要的建筑材料)和铜(预计与所研究的生物分子的最高相互作用)。我的研究小组还将调查制造工艺对生物医学合金蛋白质诱导腐蚀的影响。现代3D打印过程会产生微观结构特征，如熔池边界和孔洞，这可能会引发腐蚀。传统制造的(铸造或锻造)合金通常有夹杂物作为易腐蚀的弱点。HQP将测量摩擦腐蚀，即腐蚀和磨损的组合，并使用原位原子力显微镜(AFM)来确定腐蚀的起始点。蛋白质聚集会导致对腐蚀测试结果的误解，并导致严重的健康问题。HQP将使用动态光散射和原位AFM来确定和量化蛋白质在蛋白质和金属混合溶液中的聚集和沉淀。表面吸附和溶液蛋白质的交换对溶液中金属物种数量和腐蚀的影响将用高时间分辨率的溶液分析和电化学技术相结合来评估。该项目将提供实践、跨学科的培训，并提高我们对生物医学和工业相关金属的蛋白质诱导腐蚀机制的基本理解。HQP将在重要的软技能方面进行培训，如偏见意识，以及与建筑、制药、军事和材料工业相关的对加拿大非常重要的研究领域。

Our entire biosphere is full of metal-protein interfaces: implant materials in the human body, food in contact with pots, metal surfaces in marine environments, and the production of protein-based drugs are a few examples of these interfaces. Proteins rapidly adsorb on metal surfaces. Under some conditions, this can result in the corrosion (degradation) of the metals. I am an internationally recognized expert in the protein-induced corrosion of metals and have relocated to Canada. I have demonstrated that proteins, organic acids, and amino acids play an important role in the degradation of many metals, including commonly used implant alloys. The degradation requires biomolecule adsorption as well as an exchange of surface-adsorbed and solution biomolecules. The long-term vision for my research program is to advance the understanding of interfacial chemistry and corrosion processes of metals and alloys involving proteins. Over the next 5 years, my research group will determine the role of functional group identity, structure, charge, and hydrophobicity of a given biomolecule (amino acid, peptide, or protein) on corrosion processes. HQP under my supervision will use electrochemical, surface analytical, and solution analytical methods to conduct detailed investigations of the interactions between metals and proteins and their constituent parts. The focus will be on three biomedical alloys, carbon steel (an important construction material), and copper (expected highest interactions with the studied biomolecules). My research group will also investigate the influence of manufacturing processes on the protein-induced corrosion of biomedical alloys. The modern 3D-printing process results in microstructural features, such as melt pool boundaries and porosity, which can initiate corrosion. Traditionally manufactured (cast or wrought) alloys typically have inclusions as corrosion-susceptible weak points. HQP will measure tribocorrosion, the combination of corrosion and wear, and use in-situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) to identify the initiation sites of corrosion. Protein aggregation can result in the misinterpretation of corrosion test results and cause severe health problems. HQP will use dynamic light scattering and in-situ AFM to determine and quantify protein aggregation and precipitation in mixed protein and metal solutions. The effect of the exchange of surface-adsorbed and solution proteins on the amount of metal species in solution and corrosion will be assessed by combined solution analytical and electrochemical techniques with high time resolution. This program will provide hands-on, interdisciplinary training and improve our fundamental understanding of protein-induced corrosion mechanisms of biomedically and industrially relevant metals. HQP will be trained in important soft skills, such as bias awareness, and research areas of great importance for Canada, relevant to construction, pharmaceutical, military, and materials industry.