Functionalization of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels with Bi-Functional Fusion Proteins Containing Carbohydrate-Binding...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Modifying cellulose with biomolecules creates advanced materials with tailored properties and controlled biological interactions.
• Efficiently combining biomolecules into cellulose is crucial for achieving desired functionalities in biomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop bifunctional biomolecular constructs for precise modification of cellulose hydrogels with bioactive molecules.
• To engineer recombinant fusions of carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) with biological entities for cellulose hydrogel functionalization.

Main Methods:

• Designed and purified recombinant fusions of a family 3 CBM (CBM3) with green fluorescent protein (GFP-CBM3), a double Z domain (ZZ-CBM3), and a cysteine tag (CBM3C).
• Evaluated the binding and anchoring capabilities of CBM fusions to cellulose hydrogels using pull-down assays.
• Utilized fluorescence microscopy to qualitatively assess GFP-CBM3 capture by cellulose.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the binding of GFP-CBM3 to cellulose hydrogels via fluorescence microscopy.
• Confirmed the successful capture of antibodies by ZZ-CBM3 and the grafting of oligonucleotides to CBM3C.
• Validated the ability of CBM fusions to bind and anchor diverse biomolecules onto cellulose hydrogels.

Conclusions:

• Developed a novel bioactive cellulose platform enabling precise biomolecule anchoring.
• The platform facilitates the creation of advanced medical diagnostic sensors and specialized biomaterials.
• Biomolecular engineering of CBM fusions offers a versatile approach for cellulose functionalization.