Practice question

PVDF membranes exhibit unique surface chemistry that combines strong hydrophobic interactions mediated by fluorine-rich domains with electrostatic dipole interactions inherent to polarized carbon-fluorine bonds. This dual mode strongly adsorbs proteins via non-polar side chains and charged residues, delivering superior retention compared to nitrocellulose, which relies primarily on hydrophobic forces, and neutral nylon which relies on electrostatics alone. Activation with methanol exposes binding sites and ensures uniform wettability. High binding capacity minimizes protein loss during stringent washing, supports low background fluorescence or chemiluminescence, and tolerates harsh stripping protocols essential for reprobing experiments.