Sergey A Piletsky
University of Leicester, UK
Title: Robust affinity materials based on MIP nanoparticles for separation, and diagnostic applications
Biography
Biography: Sergey A Piletsky
Abstract
Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are generic alternatives to antibodies and natural receptors in diagnostics and in separation. Here we report an efficient and flexible method for automatic synthesis of MIP nanoparticles using solid-phase automated photo/chemical reactor. Our approach requires a column-cartridge with an immobilized template docked into a thermostatic computer-controllable reactor, thereby allowing controlled manufacturing of affinity nanoparticles with narrow size distributions in the range 20-400 nm. We demonstrate synthesis of water-soluble affinity nanoparticles for various targets such as drugs, toxins, peptides, proteins and virus particles with minimal manual intervention and short reaction-cycle times. The developed reactor allows easy functionalization of nanoparticles with fluorescent, electrochemical or magnetic labels. The affinity of all synthesized nanoparticles is at the subnanomolar level which makes them suitable for practical applications in assays, sensors and in affinity chromatography. With this new development in MIP synthesis we foresee a time when the application of natural antibodies in diagnostics and affinity separation would be challenged by stable and inexpensive “plastic antibodies”.