A one-step and biocompatible cellulose functionalization for covalent antibody immobilization on immunoassay membranes

Abstract

Among bioactive papers, many multiplexed assays implement methods incompatible with the conventional lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) carrier material, nitrocellulose. Consequently, its replacement by cellulose has to be considered. This technological breakthrough requires a surface chemistry which ensures both the biomolecules covalent grafting to cellulose and the conservation of their biological activity. To comply with these requirements, the process elaborated in this study implements compounds and methods compatible with biological material. While cellulose chemical modification is usually operated under harsh conditions in organic solvents, the diazonium-based functionalization procedure presented here was performed onto cellulose sheets in water and at room temperature. Paper sheets have been successfully modified and bear different chemical functions which enable grafting of biomolecules by common bioconjugate techniques and to perform LFIAs. More generally, the chemical ways developed in this study are suitable for many biomolecules and would be helpful for any sensitive molecule immobilization onto cellulose sheets.

One-step and eco-friendly modification of cellulose membranes by polymer grafting

“…Cellulose is a natural biopolymer made up of glucose units (Figure 2). It is the simplest polysaccharide since it is composed of a unique monomer (glucose) which binds to its neighbors by a unique type of linkage (β-1,4 glycosidic bond resulting in acetal ARTICLE RSC Advances 4 | RSC Adv., 2014, 00, 1-- 11 This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 Figure 5. A proposed mechanism of free radical grafting of acrylic polymers onto cellulose.…”

“…It swells but does not dissolve in water, hence enabling aqueous fluids and their contained components to penetrate within the fibers matrix and to wick by capillarity with no need for any external power source. In addition, cellulose sheets are available in a broad range of thicknesses and well-defined pore sizes, easy to store and handle, and lastly safely disposable [9][10][11] . Furthermore, the recent impetus given to paper-based microfluidics by American, Canadian and Finnish research teams [12][13][14] has resulted in the development of new paper-based devices for diagnostics, microfluidics, and electronics 7,15 .…”

Photo-assisted inkjet printing of antibodies onto cellulose for the eco2-friendly preparation of immunoassay membranes

“…3 It is therefore an affordable biopolymer with lots of appealing properties such as large bioavailability, good biodegradability and biocompatibility. 6,7 All of its features make cellulose an ideal structural engineering material and a grade one platform for creating novel devices for diagnostics, microuidics, and electronics. It swells but does not dissolve in water, hence enabling aqueous uids and their contained components to penetrate within the bers matrix and to wick by capillarity with no need for any external power source.…”

Photolinker-free photoimmobilization of antibodies onto cellulose for the preparation of immunoassay membranes

“…33 Because of its ability to immobilize all kind of proteins by a combination of electrostatic, hydrogen, and hydrophobic interactions involving the nitro functions displayed on its surface, 28 nitrocellulose constitutes the most commonly used support material for preparing immunochromatographic devices. 7,21,37 Moreover, some agents such as spores and some bacteria may have difficulty in migrating along nitrocellulose. 7,21,37 Moreover, some agents such as spores and some bacteria may have difficulty in migrating along nitrocellulose.…”

“…[44][45][46] To the best of our knowledge all the photoimmobilization methods described so far have required a photoreactive coupling intermediate 37,[47][48][49][50] and further functionalization of cellulose through harsh conditions, in organic solvents, or with highly toxic reagents or side products. The support is usually coated or functionalized with a photoreactive compound and the biomolecule of interest is covalently linked to the support through photoactivation of the latter.…”