Imprinted Polymer Nanoparticles

Brief Description

Synthetic polymer nanoparticles (NPs) capable of recognizing specific biomacromolecules and can be used as substitutes for natural antibodies .

Full Description

Researchers at UC Irvine developed a method to imprint polymer nanoparticles (NPs) that are composed of vinyl, acryl, and/or methacryl monomers. NPs are cross-linked in the presence of the target molecule (e.g., peptide), leaving behind an “imprint” of said molecule on the NPs. As a result, these synthetic or “plastic” antibodies have a high affinity for the target molecule and can specifically bind it in solution. These polymers can be used in biomoacromolecular purification (e.g., to purify n antibodies or hormones), in toxin removal (e.g., hemoperfusion), in diagnostics, as well as in therapeutic methods (e.g., therapeutic methods where antisera or monoclonal antibodies are normally employed).

Suggested uses

-Protein or peptide purification

-Toxin removal

-Replacement of monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics

Advantages

-Cost: Synthetic antibodies are polymer-based, which are cheaper, easier to handle and purify, and have a longer shelf life than biologically-derived materials

-Safety: Synthetic treatments are at a lower risk of having biological contamination because they are not sourced from viral or bacterial pathogens

Patent Status

Related Materials