Lactoperoxidase and Histatin 5 : their Adsorption Behaviour on Silica and Hydrophobized Silica Surfaces, and Implications on their Role in the Initial Salivary Film Formation

The acquired pellicle is the thin salivary film that covers all oral surfaces, formed by selective adsorption of primarily salivary proteins. Several cationic proteins, such as lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme and histatin 5 have been identified in the pellicle. This study focused on the adsorption of lactoperoxidase and histatin 5, to investigate their possible importance in the initial salivary film formation. The adsorption was investigated by means of in situ ellipsometry, to both pure (hydrophilic) and methylated (hydrophobized) silica substrates, at concentrations relevant in saliva. The adsorption was investigated in terms of surface area per molecule and influence of surface wettability. Mass transport controlled adsorption in relation to the initial adsorption from human whole saliva and glandular saliva was also investigated. Results showed that lactoperoxidase adsorbed in larger amounts on pure silica compared to methylated surfaces. Histatin 5 adsorbed to the same extent to the two types of surfaces, but to a lesser extent compared to lactoperoxidase. The mass transport calculated adsorption rates of lactoperoxidase and histatin 5 showed that histatin 5 might potentially have a significant role in the initial adsorption from saliva, whereas lactoperoxidase may also adsorb but is not a dominating component