  Whereas it is experimentally known that the inclusion of nanoparticles in
hydrogels can lead to a mechanical reinforcement, a detailed molecular
understanding of the adhesion mechanism is still lacking. Here we use
coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the nature of the
interface between silica surfaces and solvated polymers. We show how
differences in the nature of the polymer and the polymer--solvent interactions
can lead to drastically different behavior of the polymer--surface adhesion.
Comparing explicit and implicit solvent models, we conclude that this effect
cannot be fully described in an implicit solvent. We highlight the crucial role
of polymer solvation for the adsorption of the polymer chain on the silica
surface, the significant dynamics of polymer chains on the surface, and details
of the modifications in the structure solvated polymer close to the interface.
