The aim of our research is to achieve a fundamental understanding of the interaction of proteins with interfaces to provide rational guidelines for the design and optimization of nonfouling surfaces and biosensors. The complexity of the topic, however, calls for a multi-faceted approach and the development of experimental tools and models for the interpretation of the data. Experimentally we mainly rely on nonlinear optical techniques, that we complement with other more classical ones, to obtain surface specific information. I will present an overview of our ongoing research on the interaction of blood proteins with polymeric surfaces [1], and of de novo designed antimicrobial peptides with membranes [2]. To better understand and model [3] such complex systems, with special attention to the role of water and salts, we also study archetypal charged surfaces such as silica [4] and phospholipid monolayers [5] in contact with electrolyte solutions.

[1] C. Bernhard, S.J. Roeters, J. Franz, T. Weidner, M. Bonn, G. Gonella; Repelling and ordering: the influence of poly(ethylene glycol) on protein adsorption. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017, 19, 28182
[2] M. Kurbasic, C. Bernhard, G. Gonella, S. Marchesan; In preparation
[3] G. Gonella, C. Lütgebaucks, A. G. F. de Beer, S. Roke; Second Harmonic and Sum-Frequency Generation from Aqueous Interfaces Is Modulated by Interference. J. Phys. Chem C 2016, 120, 9165
[4] J. Schaefer, G. Gonella, M. Bonn, E. H. G. Backus; Surface-specific vibrational spectroscopy of the water/silica interface: screening and interference. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2017, 19, 16875
[5] L. B. Dreier, Y. Nagata, H. Lutz, G. Gonella, J. Hunger, E. H.G. Backus, M. Bonn; Saturation of Charge-Induced Water Alignment at Model Membrane Surfaces. Science Adv. 2018 (in publication)