Dynamic organization of mixed Langmuir films of glucose oxidase and stearylamine at the air–water interface

The structure and the dynamic organization of a mixed Langmuir film of glucose oxidase and stearylamine at the air–water interface have been studied. The film has been first characterized at the air–water interface by surface pressure/area isotherms. The dynamics of the mixed film was studied by following the evolution of the film area at a constant pressure and the evolution of the pressure at a constant area. After transfer of the films on solid substrates, the chemical composition of the mixed film has been quantified by UV–vis and IR spectroscopies. These characterizations were carried out in order to study the incorporation of glucose oxidase into the stearylamine film, and its influence on the structural evolution of the film. From these results, the dynamic organization of this mixed film may be described. For short times, glucose oxidase molecules interact with stearylamine molecules in solution or at the interface; these interactions would lead to the formation of a complex between stearylamine and glucose oxidase molecules. For long times (at least 3 h), a homogeneous mixed film constituted essentially of this complex is obtained at the air–water interface. A detailed analysis by atomic force microscopy allowed us to support this model and the existence of the glucose oxidase/stearylamine complex.