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Published on: February 1, 2018
A fluorescent polymeric heparin sensor
Wei Sun1, Heinz Bandmann, Thomas Schrader
1Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Duisburg Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, 45117 Essen, Germany.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 30, 2007
Summary
New copolymers bind sulfated sugars like heparin with high affinity. These polymers utilize boronate esters and Coulomb attraction, enabling sensitive detection and offering a novel binding mechanism for biomolecules.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Sulfated sugars, such as glucosaminoglycans, play crucial roles in biological processes.
- Developing selective and sensitive detection methods for these molecules is essential for diagnostics and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel linear copolymers with tailored binding sites for sulfated sugars.
- To investigate the binding affinity and mechanism of these copolymers with heparin.
- To establish a sensitive detection method for heparin using the developed polymers.
Main Methods:
- Statistical radical copolymerization of methacrylamide-based monomers.
- Incorporation of o-aminomethylphenylboronate and alkylammonium functionalities for binding.
- Inclusion of alcohol sidechains for water solubility and a dansyl monomer for fluorescence labeling.
- Detection of heparin using the synthesized copolymers and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Water-soluble copolymers with high affinity for glucosaminoglycans were successfully synthesized.
- Heparin was quantitatively detected with a sensitivity as low as 30 nM.
- A neutral polymer demonstrated significant binding affinity (micromolar range), suggesting a novel boronate-sugar interaction mechanism.
- Heparin binding was reversible upon addition of protamine.
Conclusions:
- The developed copolymers offer a promising platform for the sensitive detection of sulfated sugars like heparin.
- A new binding scheme involving boronate ester formation with sulfated units is proposed.
- The reversible binding mechanism highlights potential applications in biomolecular interaction studies and drug delivery.
