CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF POLYSTYRENES SURFACE AND ITS EFFECT ON IMMOBILIZED ANTIBODIES

The quantity and immunoreactivity of antibodies coupled to treated pol ystyrene beads were studied as a function of the chemical treatments u sed to prepare the polystyrene surface. Injection-molded polystyrene b eads were nitrated with sulfuric and nitric acids followed by reductio n to form amine groups. The nitration conditions used affect the quant ity of nitro and amine groups introduced, and ultimately the quantity of antibody coupled to the surface. Aminated beads were also grafted w ith monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) prior to antibody coupling t o determine if this modification could lower non-specific protein bind ing to the beads. At high surface levels of mPEG, antibody coupling wa s completely blocked. At lower surface levels of mPEG, antibody coupli ng was accomplished, but with no reduction of the non-specific protein binding to the beads. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.