Cleaning of Protein-Coated Surfaces Using Nanobubbles: An Investigation Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Abstract

The use of nanobubbles as cleaning agents to remove bovine serum albumin from the solid-liquid interface has been investigated using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance to both qualitatively follow the production of nanobubbles and to quantify the adsorption to and removal of protein using nanobubbles from both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. The protein is completely removed from both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces using electrochemically produced nanobubbles after two and four cycles, respectively, of nanobubble production for 10 s periods. The cleaning efficiency compares favorably with treatment for 20 min with a common surfactant, SDS. As nanobubbles are easily produced electrochemically, this process forms the basis of a highly effective, rapid cleaning technique that is environmentally friendly and can be applied to any conducting substrate.