Immobilization of proteins and enzymes to fine magnetic particles

In a recent study we have found that Bovine serum albumin can be covalently bound to magnetic particles without leasing its biological properties. In an extension of this study we have immobilized several clinically important proteins and enzymes and found that their activity were retained, up to 90 % in certain cases. The binding of the proteins and enzymes to magnetic par ticles was confirmed by magnetic measurements, protein and enzyme assays, e lectron microscopy and FTIR spectra. We discuss in this paper the potential applications of magnetic particles in several biomedical and biotechnology fields. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.