Immobilization of oligonucleotides and proteins in sugar-containing hydrogels

US7785769B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Government of the United States of America, as represent by the Secretary of the Navy · US

Inventors

• Mark Spector · Springfield, US
• David A. Stenger · Reston, US
• Charles Patterson · Laurel, US
• Brett D. Martin · Washington, US
• Paul T. Charles · Bowie, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2003
• Grant date: Aug 31, 2010
• Expiry date: Mar 19, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/54353
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The use of sugar-containing hydrogels as very highly porous, aqueous support material for the immobilization of oligonucleotides, peptides, proteins, antigens, antibodies, polysaccharides, and other biomolecules for sensor applications. Unusually large sizes of interconnected pores allow large target molecules to pass rapidly into and through the gel and bind to immobilized biomolecules. Sugar-containing hydrogels have extremely low non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, providing low background levels. Some hydrogel materials do not have this type of homogeneous interconnected macroporosity, thus large target molecules cannot readily diffuse through them. Additionally, they nearly always experience non-specific absorption of labeled target molecules, limiting their usefulness in sensor applications. A method is provided for preparing sugar polyacrylate hydrogels with functional chemical groups which covalently bond oligonucleotides and peptides. A method for copolymerizing acrylate-terminated oligonucleotides with sugar acrylate monomers and diacrylate cross-linking agents is also provided.