Light-Induced Activation of an Inert Surface for Covalent Immobilization of a Protein Ligand

doi:10.1038/protex.2013.086

Method Article

Light-Induced Activation of an Inert Surface for Covalent Immobilization of a Protein Ligand

https://doi.org/10.1038/protex.2013.086

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posted 26 Nov, 2013

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Introduction of functional group to an inert polymer is a very challenging and time consuming task. This protocol describes a simple and mild procedure for the preparation of an activated polymer surface, used for immobilization of a protein ligand through a covalent linkage (1). Activation of the polymer surface is carried out by attaching an active functional group through 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (FNAB). UV irradiation of FNAB transforms its azido group into a highly reactive nitrene, which binds with the inert polymer surface, whereas the active fluoro group of FNAB, now part of the polymer, remains intact. Covalent linkage between the ligand and the inert surface is established through this active fluoro group in a thermochemical reaction without addition of any catalyst or reagent. The method can be used for activation of different inert polymer surfaces having carbon hydrogen bonds. The efficacy of our method is demonstrated by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase on an activated polystyrene surface. The enzyme, immobilized through the photolinker, is found to give a twofold increase in absorbance with the substrate as compared to the directly adsorbed enzyme. The method may have many applications in the preparation of bioreactors, biostrips, and biosensors, and in diagnostic tests involving the ELISA technique.

Chemistry

4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl azide 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene heterobifunctional photolinker covalent immobilization biomolecules polymer inert surface polystyrene microtiter plate

Immobilization of enzymes on synthetic polymers is of particular interest because of their application in clinical laboratories, biosensors, membrane bioreactors, and diagnostics (2, 3). Different methods are adopted for immobilization of biomolecules on a polymer surface, e.g., entrapment, encapsulation, adsorption, and covalent binding. Covalent immobilization is often necessary for binding the biomolecules that do not adsorb, adsorb very weakly, or adsorb with improper orientation and conformation to the polymer surfaces. Covalent immobilization may result in better biomolecular activity, reduced nonspecific adsorption, and greater stability (4–7). The available methods for modifying solid supports for covalent immobilization of biomolecules suffer from one or more drawbacks (8–10). The photolinker-mediated technique permits covalent binding of a protein ligand to solid surfaces under gentle reaction conditions (11). This method is normally based on a compound having at least two functional groups, one of which is essentially a photoactivable group. There are different methods available for immobilization of ligands on a surface through a photolinker. Nevertheless, in most of the methods, either the photoactive compound is expensive or its preparation is tedious and time consuming (12). One of the advantages of using 1-Fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (FNAB) is its simple and easy preparation. The present protocol is useful for versatile applications in the field of surface engineering, immobilization and diagnostics involving microfluidic devices, biochips and biosensors.

Reagents for activation of a polymer

• 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (IUPAC: 4-azido-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene) can be purchased from Apollo scientific ltd, UK (cat no. 248-878-6) or shanghai IS chemical Technology ltd. China (cat no. I01-19053). Alternatively, it can be made from 4-Fluoro-3-nitroaniline by a simple diazotation as described below.

• Methanol (SRL, cat no.1329138) CAUTION: Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. Highly flammable liquid and vapour. Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled. Causes damage to organs. Read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture and work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood.

Reagents for immobilisation of Horseradish peroxidase onto an activated surface and its assay

• Horse radish peroxidase (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. P6782, lyophilized powder, storage temp -20°C)

• o-Phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. P1526, storage temp -20°C, Store in dark). CAUTION !TOXIC! Avoid contact with skin and eyes. May cause an allergic skin reaction. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood. Read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture.

• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (Qualigens, cat no. 15465, storage temp 4°C) CAUTION Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Causes burns. Read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood.

. Sulphuric acid (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. 339741) CAUTION: !STRONGLY CORROSIVE AGENT! Avoid contact with Skin and eyes causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood.

Reagents for making 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene.

• 4-Fluoro-3-nitroaniline (Aldrich, cat no. 155861) CAUTION: !Flammable and harmful! Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. Read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture before performing experiment. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood.

•Hydrochloric acid (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. 258148) CAUTION: Always add acid slowly to water. Corrosive to skin, metals, and clothing Avoid contact with liquid and vapor. Use an fume hood.

• Sodium nitrite (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. S2252) CAUTION: !TOXIC! Avoid release to the environment. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood and read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture. Take proper precaution.

• Sodium azide (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. S2002) CAUTION: !TOXIC! Before performing experiment with sodium azide read Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from manufacture. Always work with lab coat, safety glove and safety glass in fume hood. Sodium azide may react with lead and copper plumbing to form highly explosive metal azides. Rapidly absorbed through skin. •Petroleum ether (Sigma Aldrich, cat no. 320447) CAUTION: Petroleum ether is flammable and a dangerous fire risk.

• Dry ice/ liquid nitrogen (locally purchased)

Preparation of 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (13) -

Five grams of 4-fluro-3-nitroaniline (97% pure, F.W. 156.12, m.p. 96.98o , Aldrich, catalog No.15,586.1,flammable solid, harmful solid, avoid skin contact) was dissolved by warming in mixture of conc. HCl (30ml) and distilled H2O (5ml). The solution was filtered to a 100 ml conical flask while hot. A cooling bath made of ethanol and dry ice (solid CO2 ) was placed on a magnetic stirrer and the conical flask with a magnetic bar was clamped at the centre of the bath. NaNO2 (F.W. 69.0; Qualigens, India) solution was made by dissolving 2.4 g in 5 ml of deionised water in a 25 ml conical flask. This was added drop wise to the cooled solution of 4-fluro-3-nitroaniline. The temperature of the water bath was maintained between -25o C and -20o C. During addition and till 10 minutes after addition was complete, the solution was stirred vigorously on the magnetic stirrer. Next, NaN3 (2.2 g) was dissolved in water (8 ml) in a 25 ml conical flask and was added drop wise to the reaction mixture while stirring at around -20o C. After the addition, reaction mixture was stirred for additional 25 min. Yellow product formed was filtered using a Buchner funnel and washed by ice-cold water. The product was crystallized from light petroleum to give 3.82 g of needle-shaped, straw-colored crystals of 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (IUPAC: 4-azido-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene), mp. 52 °C.

CAUTION. FNAB is explosive and should be handled with care, especially when using large quantities. FNAB can be stored safely in dark in a loosely capped bottle at 4°C in a refrigerator.

CRITICAL

4-azido-1-fluoro-2-nitrobenzene is historically known as 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azidobenzene (FNAB) and throughout this protocol, we have used this name.

U.V. Light: Stratalinker (Model 2400; Stratagene, USA)

ELISA Reader (Bio-Rad, USA Model No. iMark)

Analytical balance (Sartorius, Germany -BSA224S-CW)

pH Meter (HANNA, India-H12215)

Magnetic stirrer (Tarson, India-6040, SPI NOT Digital Model MC02)

Glass bottles (Borosil, India)

Glass petri dishes, Glass vials, Glass beakers, Glass conical, Glass measuring cylinder, Glass Desiccators (Borosil , India)

Buchner funnel, Separatory funnel, Retort stand, Stirring bar, (Tarson, India)

Adjustable research Pipettes (Eppendorf, Germany)

Micro centrifuge tubes (Tarson, India cat. no. 500000, 500010, 500020)

Pipette tips (Genaxy, India cat. no. GEN-C-300-IW, GEN-C-200, GEN-C-1000)

ELISA plate (Nunc maxisorp, UK 96 well, flat bottom, cat. no. 655101)

ELISA plate (Tarson, India 96 well, flat bottom, cat. no. 941196)

Activation of Polystyrene Surface

The wells of a polystyrene microtiter plate were loaded with FNAB (10 µmol/50 µl methanol/well), allowed to air dry in the dark in a fume hood to get FNAB coated polymer surface. FNAB coated polymer was then exposed to UV light at a wavelength of 365 nm for 20 min. The wells were washed thrice by ethanol followed by methanol. The activated plates were dried and used further for enzyme (biomolecule) immobilization.

Optimization of incubation time for immobilisation of HRP on the Activated Polystyrene Surface

A stock solution of HRP was made in PBS (pH 7.2, 0.01 M). Different amounts of HRP (0–15 µg/well) were loaded into FNAB treated as well as untreated polystyrene wells and the final volume of each well was made up to 300 µl by adding buffer. The plates were incubated at 37°C for different time periods (45 min and 4 h) and then each well was washed thoroughly with washing buffer followed by the addition of substrate- dye buffer (300 ml/well). The absorbance was recorded at 490 nm.

Timing

Step1- Coating of FNAB to polystyrene Surface 10 minutes

Step 2- UV light exposure -20 minutes

Step 3- Washing and drying 5 minutes

OPTIONAL

Step 4. - Immobilization of HRP onto the Activated Polystyrene Surface- 45 minutes

• Maximum activation was observed when the amount of FNAB was kept at 10 µmol per well, and after that it decreased slightly or practically remained constant. Activation of the polystyrene microtiter plate was checked by immobilizing HRP on the activated wells and subsequently assaying the immobilized enzyme colorimetrically.

• To determine the optimum time, we exposed the photolinker-coated surface to UV light for 5, 10, 20, and 40 min, respectively. With the plates activated for 40 min a high absorbance value was recorded for the enzyme after assay. However, at the end of this period, the polystyrene surface became discolored (colorless to light yellow). UV irradiation of the FNAB-coated surface for 20 min was found to result in effective immobilization.

• Control experiments without the photolinker showed much lower values of absorbance. Rapid immobilization of the enzyme on the activated surface was another advantage of this method.

• Any polymer can be activated by this method using FNAB. We have subsequently activated polypropylene (14), polyethylene (14), cellulose (15), Polycarbonate (16) polystyrene cuvets (17), and polyethylene glycol (18).

• Also, any biomolecule having active nucleophilic group can be covalently linked to activated polymers prepared by this method such as 5'-aminated oligonucleotides (19).

• Instead of UV light, even sunlight can be used for activation of polymers (20).

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Light-Induced Activation of an Inert Surface for Covalent Immobilization of a Protein Ligand

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