Electroactive nanofibers decorated with a,v-bi-(dinitrophenylcaproic acid), abbreviated as DNP, have been prepared by electrospinning a solution of a,v-bi [2,4-dinitrophenylcaproic][poly(ethyleneoxide)-b-poly(2-methoxystyrene)-b-poly (ethylene oxide)], polystyrene and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The a,v-bi [2,4-dinitrophenylcaproic] [poly(ethyleneoxide)-b-poly(2-methoxystyrene)-b-poly(ethyleneoxide)] polymers were synthesized by living anionic polymerization and subsequent esterification to obtain the DNP-functionalized polymers. The nanofibers (300 nm) were electrospun onto a silicon wafer substrate at a voltage of 10 kV using dimethylformamide and chlorobenzene as solvents. The nanofibers were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy. The DNP groups, therein, were tethered to the nanofibers via oligo(oxyethylene) spacers. The DNP groups decorating the nanofibers were capable of specifically binding with anti-DNP immunoglobulin E (IgE). The binding specificity of nanofibers containing 1% SWCNTs with anti-DNP IgE was studied via fluorescently labeled (Fluorescein IsoThioCyanate) FITC-IgE. Electronic activity of the nanofibers was studied by I-V plots from Kelvin sensing. The I-V plots before sensitizing with IgE differed from the I-V plots after binding with IgE. The results of the studies suggest the possibility of developing functional nanofibers as the active component in biosensors.
Electrospinning is an effective processing method for preparing nanofibers decorated with functional groups. Nanofibers decorated with functional groups may be utilized to study material-biomarker interactions i.e. act as biosensors with potential as single molecule detectors. We have developed an effective approach for preparing functional polymers where the functionality has the capacity of specifically binding with a model protein. In our model system, the functional group is 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) and the protein is anti-DNP IgE H NMR and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The molecular weight distributions of the polymers were narrow (1.1-1.2) and polymers with molecular weights greater than 50,000 was used in this study. The polymers were yellow powders and soluble in tetrahydrofuran. A water soluble CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP/ DMEG (dimethoxyethylene glycol) complex binds and achieves steady state binding with solution IgE within a few seconds. Higher molecular weight (water insoluble i.e. around 50,000) CDNP-PEO-P2MS-PEO-CDNP polymers, containing 1% single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were processed into electroactive nanofibers (100 nm to 500 nm in diameter) on silicon substrate. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that anti-DNP IgE interacts with the nanofibers by binding with the DNP functional groups decorating the fibers. These observations suggest that appropriately functionalized nanofibers hold promise for developing biomarker detection device. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been chemically functionalized onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) through a metallopolymer linker-bis (2,2':6'2"-terpyridine) ruthenium(II)-connected diblock poly(N-isopropyacryamide). A "nano-snowflower" pattern was formed by self-assembly MWCNT-AuNP nanocomposite with anti-DNP IgE antibody. MWCNT-AuNP nanohybrid has unique biocompatibility and electronic current-voltage properties. This nanohybrid shows the potential application for IgE biosensor to diagnose cancer cells. We represent a step towards building complex electronic circuits response by providing molecular recognition properties.
Biofunctional block copolymers are becoming increasingly attractive materials as active components in biosensors and other nanoscale electronic devices. We have described two different classes of block copolymers with biofuctional properties. Biofunctionality for block copolymers is achieved through functionalization with appropriate biospecific ligands. We have synthesized block copolymers of electroactive poly(3-decylthiophene) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate by atom transfer radical polymerization. The block copolymers were functionalized with the dinitrophenyl (DNP) groups, which are capable of binding to Immunoglobulin E (IgE) on cell surfaces. The block copolymers were shown to be redox active. Additionally, the triblock copolymer of α, ω-bi-biotin (poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly (styrene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)) was also synthesized to study their capacity to bind fluorescently tagged avidin. The surface-active property of the poly(ethylene oxide) block improved the availability of the biotin functional groups on the polymer surfaces. Fluorescence microscopy observations confirm the specific binding of biotin with avidin.
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