title: "Clickable" Polymeric Nanofibers through Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Balance: Fabrication of Robust Biomolecular Immobilization Platforms.
abstract: Fabrication of hydrophilic polymeric nanofibers that undergo facile and selective functionalization through metal catalyst-free Diels-Alder "click" reaction in aqueous environment is outlined. Electrospinning of copolymers containing an electron-rich furan moiety, hydrophobic methyl methacrylate units and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)s as side chains provide specifically functionalizable yet antibiofouling fibers that remain stable in aqueous media due to appropriate hydrophobic hydrophilic balance. Efficient functionalization of these nanofibers is accomplished through the Diels-Alder reaction by exposing them to maleimide-containing molecules and ligands. Diels-Alder conjugation based functionalization is demonstrated through attachment of fluorescein-maleimide and a maleimide tethered biotin ligand. Biotinylated nanofibers were utilized to mediate immobilization of the protein streptavidin, as well as streptavidin coated quantum dots. Facile fabrication from readily available polymers and their effective functionalization under mild and reagent-free conditions in aqueous media make these "clickable" nanofibers attractive candidates as functionalizable scaffolds for various biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: †Bogazici University, Department of Chemistry, Bebek, 34342, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Kalaoglu-Altan
authors.affiliation: †Bogazici University, Department of Chemistry, Bebek, 34342, Istanbul, Turkey.|‡Bogazici University, Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanyal
authors.affiliation: †Bogazici University, Department of Chemistry, Bebek, 34342, Istanbul, Turkey.|‡Bogazici University, Center for Life Sciences and Technologies, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Amitav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanyal
mesh_terms: D061565:Cycloaddition Reaction; D005452:Fluoresceins; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D055767:Immobilized Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D055767:Immobilized Proteins; D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C037041:fluorescein 5-maleimide; D019809:Streptavidin