Development of a novel dry process to functionalize membranes for the covalent attachment of antibodies used in immunochemical - Based environmental strip tests
S. Ben Rejeb et al., Development of a novel dry process to functionalize membranes for the covalent attachment of antibodies used in immunochemical - Based environmental strip tests, INT J ENV A, 71(2), 1998, pp. 165-180
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
The controlled attachment of antibodies is a prime requirement for developi
ng membrane-based immunoassays used in field tests. A novel dry process was
developed to functionalize a nitrocellulose membrane by introducing amino
groups on the surface, allowing an oriented covalent linkage of antibodies
through their oxidized carbohydrate moieties. A non-equilibrium low pressur
e plasma of NH3 and NH3/H-2 mixtures was used to incorporate an average of
2.4 amine functions per nm(2) of porous surface. A mechanism of the functio
nalization process was proposed using on-line emission spectroscopy and mas
s spectrometry analysis to monitor the reaction process. The modification o
f the physical properties and the chemical composition of the treated mater
ial was also investigated by X-ray Spectrophotometric (XPS) analysis and sc
anning electron microscopy. The immobilization of radiolabelled antibodies
resulted in an average binding capacity of 60 mu g/cm(2). Their activity wa
s retained as shown by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. This fast and
reproducible process was demonstrated to be efficient in developing functio
nalized membranes suitable for environmental strip tests.