Site-specific and covalent attachment of his-tagged proteins by chelation assisted photoimmobilization: a strategy for microarraying of protein ligands

Oriented immobilization of antibodies onto sensing platforms - A critical review

The immunosensor has been proven a versatile tool to detect various analytes, such as food contaminants, pathogenic bacteria, antibiotics and biomarkers related to cancer. To fabricate robust and reproducible immunosensors with high sensitivity, the covalent immobilization of immunoglobulins (IgGs) in a site-specific manner contributes to better performance. Instead of the random IgG orientations result from the direct yet non-selective immobilization techniques, this review for the first time introduces the advances of stepwise yet site-selective conjugation strategies to give better biosensing efficiency. Noncovalently adsorbing IgGs is the first but decisive step to interact specifically with the Fc fragment, then following covalent conjugate can fix this uniform and antigens-favorable orientation irreversibly. In this review, we first categorized this stepwise strategy into two parts based on the different noncovalent interactions, namely adhesive layer-mediated interaction onto homofunctional support and layer-free interaction onto heterofunctional support (which displays several different functionalities on its surface that are capable to interact with IgGs). Further, the influence of ligands characteristics (synthesis strategies, spacer requirements and matrices selection) on the heterofunctional support has also been discussed. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives for the real-world application of stepwise covalent conjugation are discussed. This review provides more insights into the fabrication of high-efficiency immunosensor, and special attention has been devoted to the well-orientation of full-length IgGs onto the sensing platform.

SARS-CoV-2 RapidPlex: A Graphene-Based Multiplexed Telemedicine Platform for Rapid and Low-Cost COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global challenge for public health systems. Ultrasensitive and early identification of infection is critical in preventing widespread COVID-19 infection by presymptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, especially in the community and in-home settings. We demonstrate a multiplexed, portable, wireless electrochemical platform for ultra-rapid detection of COVID-19: the SARS-CoV-2 RapidPlex. It detects viral antigen nucleocapsid protein, IgM and IgG antibodies, as well as the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein, based on our mass-producible laser-engraved graphene electrodes. We demonstrate ultrasensitive, highly selective, and rapid electrochemical detection in the physiologically relevant ranges. We successfully evaluated the applicability of our SARS-CoV-2 RapidPlex platform with COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative blood and saliva samples. Based on this pilot study, our multiplexed immunosensor platform may allow for high-frequency at-home testing for COVID-19 telemedicine diagnosis and monitoring.

Site-Specific and Covalent Immobilization of His-Tagged Proteins via Surface Vinyl Sulfone-Imidazole Coupling

Site-specific immobilization of proteins on a surface has been a long-lasting challenge in the fields of biosensing and biotechnology because of the need for improving the biological activity of immobilized protein via the maximal exposure of its bioactive domain. Herein, we reported a new site-specific immobilization method for His-tagged proteins onto a vinyl sulfone (VS)-bearing surface in a covalent manner. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization indicated the specificity of the addition reaction of the imidazole group in histidine on the VS-bearing surface at pH 7.0. Solution-based experiments were carried out to verify the reaction priority of the imidazole residue of histidine with the VS group at neutral conditions. The real-time immobilization process of two His-tagged proteins (HaloTag-6His and anti-HER2 Fab-6His) on surfaces presenting VS, preactivated carboxyl, and NTA groups were studied by quartz crystal microbalance. Compared to the existing methods utilizing covalent (NHS/EDC activated carboxyl) and coordinate (Ni²⁺-NTA) linking, our method offers two significant advantages for protein immobilization: high density and high specificity. The orientation of the two His-tagged proteins on the VS-bearing surface was confirmed by an enzyme-linked assay and an HER2⁺ liposome binding experiment. Our method of site-specific immobilization of His-tagged proteins is efficient and straightforward, which would be helpful to expand the applications of recombinant proteins in enzyme immobilization, biosensor and array fabrication, and drug delivery system.

Surface engineering of poly(methylmethacrylate): Effects on fluorescence immunoassay

The authors present surface engineering modifications through chemistry of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) that have dramatic effects on the result of surface-bound fluorescence immunoassays, both for specific and nonspecific signals. The authors deduce the most important effect to be clustering of antibodies on the surface leading to significant self-quenching. Secondary effects are attributable to the formation of sparse multilayers of antibody. The authors compare PMMA as an antibody support surface with ultraviolet-ozone oxidized PMMA and also to substrates that were, after the oxidation, surface modified by a four-unit poly(ethyleneglycol) carboxylic acid (PEG₄), a branched tricarboxylic acid, and a series of carboxylic acid-terminated dendrimers, from generation 1.5 to 5.5. Fluorescence immunoassay and neutron reflectometry were used to compare the apparent antibody surface loading, antigen binding and nonspecific binding on these various surfaces using anti-human IgG as a model antibody, chemically coupled to the surface by amide formation. Simple physical adsorption of the antibody on PMMA resulted in a thick antibody multilayer with small antigen binding capacity. On the carboxylated surfaces, with chemical coupling, a simple monolayer was formed. The authors deduce that antibody clustering was driven by conformational inflexibility and high carboxylate density. The PEG₄-modified surface was the most conformationally flexible. The dendrimer-modified interfaces showed a collapse and densification. In fluorescence immunoassay, the optimal combination of high specific and low nonspecific fluorescence signal was found for the G3.5 dendrimer.

Site-selective orientated immobilization of antibodies and conjugates for immunodiagnostics development

Immobilized antibody systems are the key to develop efficient diagnostics and separations tools. In the last decade, developments in the field of biomolecular engineering and crosslinker chemistry have greatly influenced the development of this field. With all these new approaches at our disposal, several new immobilization methods have been created to address the main challenges associated with immobilized antibodies. Few of these challenges that we have discussed in this review are mainly associated to the site-specific immobilization, appropriate orientation, and activity retention. We have discussed the effect of antibody immobilization approaches on the parameters on the performance of an immunoassay.

The Life of Pi Star: Exploring the Exciting and Forbidden Worlds of the Benzophenone Photophore

The widespread applications of benzophenone (BP) photochemistry in biological chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and material science have been prominent in both academic and industrial research. BP photophores have unique photochemical properties: upon n-π* excitation at 365 nm, a biradicaloid triplet state is formed reversibly, which can abstract a hydrogen atom from accessible C-H bonds; the radicals subsequently recombine, creating a stable covalent C-C bond. This light-directed covalent attachment process is exploited in many different ways: (i) binding/contact site mapping of ligand (or protein)-protein interactions; (ii) identification of molecular targets and interactome mapping; (iii) proteome profiling; (iv) bioconjugation and site-directed modification of biopolymers; (v) surface grafting and immobilization. BP photochemistry also has many practical advantages, including low reactivity toward water, stability in ambient light, and the convenient excitation at 365 nm. In addition, several BP-containing building blocks and reagents are commercially available. In this review, we explore the "forbidden" (transitions) and excitation-activated world of photoinduced covalent attachment of BP photophores by touring a colorful palette of recent examples. In this exploration, we will see the pros and cons of using BP photophores, and we hope that both novice and expert photolabelers will enjoy and be inspired by the breadth and depth of possibilities.

From a Laboratory Exercise for Students to a Pioneering Biosensing Technology

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for biosensing was demonstrated 30 years ago. In the present contribution, its general background is described together with the necessary developments both in instrumentation and surface chemistry, leading to the final so-called BIAcore technology. The description is naturally colored by my personal opinion of the developments. SPR for the elucidation of organic mono- and multilayers introduced at the end of the 1970s formed the basis for the first biosensing demonstration of SPR in the beginning of the 1980s. It is pointed out how the need of an up-to-date laboratory exercise for the undergraduate students and the multidisciplinary environment at the Laboratory of Applied Physics at Linköping University led to this demonstration. The initial experiments are touched upon and the further developments at Pharmacia, which led to the BIAcore technology, are described in some details. Some of the present activities in Linköping related to optical biosensing with ubiquitous instrumentation are also described, including SPR detection with a computer screen and a web camera and most recently with a cellular phone.