Stabilization of surface-immobilized enzymes using grafted polymers

We introduce a two-dimensional lattice model of immobilization and stabilization of proteinlike polymers using grafted polymers. The protein is designed to have a specific bulk conformation reproducing a catalytic cleft of natural enzymes. Our model predicts a first order denaturing adsorption transition of free proteins. On the other hand, for an immobilized protein we observe a more gradual disappearance of the hydrophobic centers accompanied by adsorption. We show that, using hydrophilic grafted polymers of proper length and grafting density, the conformation as well as the hydrophobic centers of the protein can be restored.