AVS 49th International Symposium
    Biomaterials Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI+SS-TuA

Paper BI+SS-TuA3
"Smart" Biomolecular Conjugates

Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 2:40 pm, Room C-201

Session: Molecular Recognition Surfaces
Presenter: P.S. Stayton, University of Washington
Authors: P.S. Stayton, University of Washington
A.S. Hoffman, University of Washington
N. Malmstadt, University of Washington
C. Hu, University of Washington
S. Kulkarni, University of Washington
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One of the hallmarks of biological systems is their ability to change important properties in response to environmental cues. We have been developing stimuli-responsive biomolecular materials for biosensors, diagnostics, affinity separations, microfluidic devices, and chip/array devices that exhibit responsiveness to specific environmental cues. For many of the diagnostic and sensor technologies that utilize biomolecular recognition properties, there is a continuing need for better control routes. Current environmental methods are relatively harsh and can lead to damage of biomolecules and cells. In addition, the environmental signals are typically large general solution changes and thus not targeted to selective recognition components. The stimuli-respon sive biomolecular materials allow reversible control over protein recognition properties by utilizing small changes in environmental conditions or signals. The "smart" polymers reversibly cycle between an extended and hydrophilic random coil, and a collap sed, hydrophobic state that is reduced in average volume by ca. 3-fold. When the smart polymers are attached at defined protein side-chains, typically by genetically engineering cysteine or lysine residues, the polymers serve as sensors and actuators to c ontrol access of ligands or su bstrates to binding or catalytic sites. This general approach targets mild environmental signals to specific polymer-protein conjugates, and thus for example allows differential control of different antibodies in a device by using conjugated polymers that are sensitive to different signals (e.g. antibody 1 with pH, antibody 2 with temperature, antibody 3 with light). They can thus allow multiplexing control in complex mixtures, and are thus relevant to a number of different diagnostic and sensor formats.