title: Optical waveguide spectroscopy for the investigation of protein-functionalized hydrogel films.
abstract: This article reports the implementation of optical waveguide spectroscopy (OWS) for the quantitative time-resolved observation of changes in the swelling behavior and mass density of protein-functionalized hydrogel films. In the experiment, a thin film of an N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm)-based polymer that supported optical waveguide modes is attached to a metallic sensor surface. IgG molecules are in situ immobilized in this gel by using novel coupling chemistry with a charge-attraction scheme based on a tetrafluorophenol sulfonate active ester. The anti-fouling properties of the functionalized hydrogel network and the kinetics of the affinity binding of protein molecules in the gel are investigated.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aulasevich
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Roskamp
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Menges
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dostálek
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knoll