AVS 50th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Monday Sessions
       Session BI-MoA

Paper BI-MoA5
Non-Fouling Surfaces: Their Use and Study by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Monday, November 3, 2003, 3:20 pm, Room 307

Session: Non-fouling Surfaces and Biolubrication
Presenter: J. Zhang, The University of Texas at Arlington
Authors: G.R. Kinsel, The University of Texas at Arlington
J. Zhang, The University of Texas at Arlington
R.B. Timmons, The University of Texas at Arlington
Correspondent: Click to Email
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption / Ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) has emerged in recent years as a powerful method for the mass spectrometric analysis of a wide range of biomolecules including proteins, oligonucleotides, polysaccharides, etc. Advantages of this analytical approach include simplicity of sample preparation, high analysis speed and high sensitivity. Recently MALDI-MS has been used in the characterization of non-fouling surfaces and related mechanistic studies in our group. Specifically, non-fouling coatings are applied to MALDI sample targets using a variety of published approaches including PEO chemical modification of polyurethane and pulsed plasma deposition of tetraethylene glycol dimethylether. From a practical standpoint these surfaces are shown to significantly lower the limit of detection (to sub-femtomolar quantities) in a MALDI experiment, presumably by reducing the amount of protein lost to surface-binding interactions. This influence is revealed by the acquisition of MALDI standard curves for a variety of peptides and proteins using methods previously established in our group. Additional studies of the influence of various MALDI parameters, including matrix solvent, pH, and ionic strength and various surface properties, primarily contact angle, have been performed to reveal relationships between, for example, surface hydrophilicity and protein binding, peptide/protein size and protein binding and elution solvent properties and protein binding. These studies offer useful experimental insights into various proposed mechanisms of non-fouling behavior.