Two-dimensionally self-arranged protein nanoarrays on diblock copolymer templates.
Novel methods for creating protein arrays with two-dimensional control can significantly enhance basic biological research as well as various bioarray applications. We demonstrate that the structural variety and chemical heterogeneity of self-assembled, hexagonal polystyrene-b-poly(vinylpyridine) micelles can be successfully exploited as templates for easy and rapid fabrication of functional protein arrays over a large scale. Spontaneous formation of such polymeric template-guided protein molecules yields high-density protein arrays that exhibit repeat spacings in a nanoscopic dimension. The ensuing self-assembled protein molecules in the array maintain their natural conformation and activity over a very long time period. By tuning the size of the underlying block copolymer templates, our amphiphilic diblock copolymer-based approach to create high-density protein patterns also permits spatial control over two-dimensional repeat spacings of protein nanoarrays. These unique advantages of polystyrene-b-poly(vinylpyridine) templates make the spontaneously constructed protein nanoarrays highly suitable as functional protein sensor substrates. Therefore, our novel two-dimensional protein assembly method can be greatly beneficial for high-throughput proteomic assays and multiplexed high-density protein sensing applications.
Kumar
Nitin
N
Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 160 Fenske Laboratory, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
Parajuli
Omkar
O
Hahm
Jong-In
JI
D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins