CARBOXYLATED LATEXES FOR COVALENT COUPLING ANTIBODIES .1.

The aim of the present work is to prepare and characterize carboxylate d latexes (CLs) in order to bind antibodies covalently and efficiently . Carboxylated latexes were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polym erization using an ate-initiator, which provides carboxyl end groups o n the latex surface directly. Two latexes were characterized using dif ferent techniques: particle size by electron microscopy and photocorre lation spectroscopy, surface charge density by conductimetric and pote ntiometric titrations, and electrophoretic mobility versus pH and ioni c strength (KBr). The colloidal stability of both latexes shows that t hese carboxylated latexes can be used for biomedical applications. Act ivation of carboxyl end groups was performed using the carbodiimide me thod, and the best conditions for covalent coupling of IgG were obtain ed. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.