Web Release Date: September 20,
Self-Assembled, Mesoporous Polymeric Networks for Patterned Protein Arrays
and
Materials Science Division, Center for Nanoscale Materials, Experimental Facilities, and Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
Received July 19, 2005
In Final Form: August 31, 2005
Abstract:
A facile, self-assembly approach to the fabrication of a robust, mesoporous, biocompatible polymeric network for the spatial organization of proteins is described. Surface-deposited poly(styrene) (PS) beads that assemble into a two-dimensional (2-D) hexagonal array are used to template cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), yielding an inverse opal structure. The porous, water insoluble network is used to entrain a model, soluble protein, green fluorescent protein (GFP). The polymeric network is characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy, and the spatial localization of the incorporated GFP is determined by fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrate that this system may constitute a versatile platform for the lateral organization of biomolecules.
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