Numerical tool for estimating the dielectric constant, the thickness, and the coverage of immobilized inhomogeneous protein films on gold in aqueous solution.

A numerical simulation tool is reported for nanometer thin and inhomogeneous immobilized protein films on gold in aqueous solution. It allows for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the simultaneous assessment of refractive index, film thickness, and surface coverage. The model relies on and combines the convective diffusion equation, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the Helmholtz equation, with appropriate boundary conditions.