Adsorption of plasma proteins on hydrophobic surfaces. III. Serum, plasma, and blood.

Liquid-air and liquid-liquid interfaces were used as models for the liquid-solid system of plasma proteins and hydrophobic surfaces in the study of adsorption of serum, plasma, and blood onto these surfaces. The interfacial tension is determined for three phases: air, methylene iodide, and isooctane. Curves of interfacial tension versus time for the various systems are given from which a triple-intersection point, where the protein solution is in equilibrium with each surface, is found. It is shown that albumin, gamma-globulin, and a mixed solution of these at in vivo concentrations behave in characteristic and constant manners at the three interfaces of air, methylene iodide, and isooctane. A range of synthetic surfaces which have constant behavior at equilibrium is deduced and it is concluded that any soft tissue response differences between such surfaces could not be the result of albumin or gamma-globulin.