A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based matrix for studies of affinity interactions is developed and demonstrated. The PEG matrix, less than 0.1 microm thick, is graft copolymerized onto a cycloolefin polymer from a mixture of PEG methacrylates using a free radical reaction initiated by UV light at 254 nm. The grafting process is monitored in real time, and characteristics such as thickness, homogeneity, relative composition, photostability, and performance in terms of protein resistance in complex biofluids and sensor qualities are investigated with null ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy, and surface plasmon resonance. The matrix is subsequently modified to contain carboxyl groups, thereby making it possible to immobilize ligands in a controlled and functional manner. Human serum albumin and fibrinogen are immobilized and successfully detected by antibody recognition using surface plasmon resonance. The results are encouraging and suggest that the PEG matrix is suitable for biochip and biosensor applications in demanding biofluids.
A biosensor matrix based on UV-initiated graft copolymerized poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate has been studied using imaging surface plasmon resonance (iSPR). By using a photo mask and a programmable shutter to vary the exposure time laterally, a gradient of matrix spots with physical thicknesses ranging from a few to tens of nanometers was generated. To maximize the dynamic range, imaging SPR was employed in wavelength interrogation mode. By finding the minimum in the reflectance spectra from each pixel of an image, SPR wavelength maps were constructed. The shift in SPR wavelength upon biospecific interaction was then measured both as a function of matrix thickness and composition. The performance of the matrix was evaluated in terms of immobilization of human serum albumin, biomolecular interaction with its antibody, and nonspecific binding of human fibrinogen. In addition, a low molecular weight interaction pair based on a synthetic polypeptide and calmodulin was also studied to explore the size selectivity of the hydrogel matrix. Our results show that the gradient matrix exhibits excellent properties for quick evaluation and screening of optimal hydrogel performance. The mixed hydrogel matrices display very low levels of nonspecific binding. It is also evident that the low molecular weight calmodulin is capable of freely diffusing and interacting throughout the entire hydrogel matrix, whereas the much larger albumin and its corresponding antibody, in particular, are partly/completely hindered from penetrating the interior of the matrix. This size-selectivity is attributed to a significant UV-initiated cross-linking or branching of the matrix during fabrication and/or protein mediated multipoint attachment during immobilization.
A novel method of producing a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based gradient matrix that varies gradually in thickness from 0 to 500 A over a distance of 5-20 mm is presented. The gradient matrix is graft copolymerized from a mixture of PEG methacrylates onto organic thin films providing free radical polymerization sites initiated by UV irradiation at 254 nm. The films used as grafting platforms consist of either a spin-coated cycloolefin polymer or a self-assembled monolayer on planar gold. The thickness/irradiation gradient is realized by means of a moving shutter that slowly uncovers the modified gold substrate. The structural and functional characteristics of the gradient matrix are investigated with respect to thickness profile, degree of carboxylation, and subsequent immobilization of two model proteins of different sizes and shapes. These characteristics are studied with ellipsometry and infrared reflection-absorption microscopy using a grazing angle objective. It is revealed that the relatively small carboxylation agent used offers homogeneous activation throughout the gradient, even in the thick areas, whereas the diffusion/interpenetration and subsequent immobilization of large proteins is partially hindered. This is crucial information in biosensor design that can be easily obtained from a gradient experiment on a single sample. Moreover, the partially hindered protein interpenetration, the marginal swelling upon hydration, and the unspecific nature of the graft polymerization suggest a matrix growth mechanism that favors the formation of a bushlike polymer structure with a certain degree of cross linking.
Streamlining new product development forces companies to make decisions on preliminary information. This article considers this challenge within the context of project management in the aerospace sector and, in particular, for the development of product-service systems. The concept of knowledge maturity is explored as a means to provide practical decision support, which increases decision makers’ awareness of the knowledge base and supports cross-boundary discussions on the perceived maturity of available knowledge, thereby identifying and mitigating limitations. Requirements are elicited from previous research on knowledge maturity in the aerospace industry, and a knowledge maturity model is developed through five industry-based workshops.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.