Controlling Protein Conformation & Activities on Block-Copolymer Nanopatterns
Abstract
This research program aims to develop block copolymer thin films as model systems for understanding protein activity in the immobilized state and as effective technologies to achieve optimal protein activity on surfaces. Protein molecules immobilized on solid surfaces underpin a number of key technologies in bio-analysis, such as ELISA, biosensors, and protein microarrays for the large-scale screening and profiling in proteomics. A solid surface is intrinsically a foreign environment to protein molecules but little is known about the relationship between surface chemistry and protein conformation/activity in the immobilized state. The long-term goal of this project is to develop fundamental understanding of the essential structure-property relationship between the chemical structure of the surface and the activity of immobilized protein molecules using block copolymer thin films to create chemical and geometrical patterns for the selective immobilization of protein molecules. During the past year, we successfully developed a number of block copolymer coatings, particularly PS-PHEMA and PS-PMMA in the cylinder phases. We carried out surface chemical modifications of the cylinder domains and immobilized poly-His tagged protein molecules in a spatially selective manner. We also succeeded in quantifying protein adsorption kinetics on these patterned surfaces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 05, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA520626
Entities
People
- Tim P. Lodge
- Xiaoyang Zhu
Organizations
- University of Minnesota