Preparation of spatially ordered multilayer thin films of antibody and their binding properties

Spatially ordered multilayer thin films containing anti-fluoresceinisothioc yanate (anti-FITC) were prepared on the surface of a quartz slide to study the binding properties of the multilayer films. A quartz slide was treated in solutions of avidin and biotin-labeled anti-FITC alternately and repeate dly to form multilayer thin films through a strong affinity between avidin and biotin. A spectrophotometric study revealed explicitly that the thin fi lms thus prepared consisted of alternate monomolecular layers of avidin and biotin-labeled anti-FITC. The antibody retained its binding activity to an tigen in the multilayer thin Nm, though the antigen could not access the an tibody embedded deep in the multilayer Nm. Only the outermost four or five layers of antibody were involved in the binding of antigen. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science S.A. All rights reserved.