Open-sandwich molecular imprinting: making a recognition matrix with antigen-imprinted antibody fragments.

A novel antibody-polymer conjugation method termed open-sandwich molecular imprinting (OS-MIP) has been proposed to produce a specific recognition matrix in the presence of a target antigen. The resultant carboxymethyldextran matrix conjugated with two separate antibody variable region fragments imprinted with the cognate antigen showed higher antigen-binding capacity than non-imprinted ones and was successfully used to sensitively monitor multiple antigen binding/desorption events by a surface plasmon resonance biosensor. Furthermore, when each fragment was labeled with different fluorophores before conjugation, the fluorescence signals of the matrix made by OS-MIP clearly showed an antigen concentration dependent increase in Förster resonance energy transfer between the two dyes. By using a combination of various methods for detecting interaction, OS-MIP will be a useful platform for detecting various targets from small molecules to proteins with high sensitivity and specificity.

Verification of a specific reaction between an airborne antigen and an immobilized antibody at a gas-solid interface.

With a specific and strong molecular-recognition capability cultivated in humoral acquired immunity, an antibody has been extensively utilized in various applications, such as diagnostics and therapy. However, so far most of its uses have been limited to be in the liquid phase. In view of its potential uses, such as a gas-phase biosensor or a high-performance air filter, we have tried to verify a previously undescribed binding reaction between protein antigens and corresponding antibodies immobilized on a solid surface by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the two. Our data showed that the antibody on a solid surface specifically reacted with a protein antigen supplied from the gas phase under the normal ambient condition. Also discovered was that the reaction occurred even faster than that in the liquid phase under several assay conditions.

Development of the aqueous-coated photothermographic material.

As the use of digitization grows in the medical field, doctors are increasingly demanding high quality photographic films for digital images to help them form their diagnoses. From an environmental perspective, photothermography has the advantage of no waste and the disadvantage of using enormous amounts of organic solvents during production. We succeeded in developing a system using aqueous latex with aqueous coated photothermographic film that drastically reduces the use of organic solvents.