What is nitrocellulose?

[m griep]

What is the chemical structure of nitrocellulose and 
why do proteins stick to it?

According to Merck, nitrocellulose (listed under pyroxylin)
is cellulose tetranitrate.  Merck makes no reference to an 
ester, besides which it would be impossible to have four anyway.  
But if it is a salt, surely the cellulose is not that highly 
charged.  Is it a trapped anion of some sort?

My second question is: why do proteins stick to it so well?

You can post to the group or email me at mgriep at unlinfo.unl.edu



--
Mark Griep
Department of Chemistry      ____   ____      __________________
Center for Biotechnology    |    | /    |    |                  \_
University of Nebraska      |    |/     |    |                    \