Evidence for the Intercalation of Lipid Acyl Chains into Polypropylene Fiber Matrices.

Headgroup-functionalized lipids are being developed as ligand tethers for high selectivity separations on polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fiber stationary phases. Surface modification is affected under ambient conditions from aqueous solution. This basic methodology has promise in many areas where robust modifications are desired on hydrophobic surfaces. In order to understand the mode of adsorption of the lipid tail to the polypropylene surface, lipids labeled with the environmentally sensitive 7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl (NBD) fluorophore were used, with NBD covalently attached to the headgroup (NBD-PE) or the acyl chain (acyl NBD-PE) of the lipid. When modified with the acyl NBD-PE, fluorescence imaging of the fiber at excitation wavelengths increasing from 470 to 510 nm caused a 32 nm shift in emission toward the red edge of the absorption band, indicating that the NBD molecule (and thus the lipid tail) is motionally restricted. Fluorescence imaging on fibers modified with NBD-PE or the free NBD-Cl dye molecule yields no change in the emission response. The results of these imaging studies provide evidence that the acyl chain portions of the lipids intercalate into free volume of the polypropylene fiber structure, yielding a robust means of surface modification and the potential for high ligand densities.

Evaluation of synthesized lipid tethered ligands for surface functionalization of polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fiber stationary phases.

Polypropylene (PP) capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers have been used in this laboratory as stationary phases for high performance liquid chromatography and solid phase extraction of proteins. Greater selectivity has been realized through the functionalization of the PP fibers through the physical adsorption of commercially available head group-modified poly(ethylene glycol) lipids (PEG-lipids), where the head group is chosen to affect affinity separations. We refer to this general surface modification methodology as lipid tethered ligands (LTLs). In this study, LTLs were synthesized by solid phase synthesis. In comparison to the commercial PEG-lipids, the synthesized LTLs contain no chemically labile phosphate groups. Instead of an ester linkage in the commercial lipids, amide functionality was used in the synthesized LTLs to attach the lipids and ligands. By use of fluorescence imaging of FITC-labeled LTLs, the synthesized LTL was shown to be superior to the commercial LTL in terms of the adsorption efficiency to PP C-CP fibers, the resistance to solvent wash from the PP C-CP fibers, and their chemical stability under acidic, neutral and basic conditions. The PP C-CP fibers functionalized with a synthesized LTL that was biotinylated at the head group are shown to be capable of capturing streptavidin from E. coli cell lysate more efficiently than the PP C-CP fibers functionalized with the commercial biotinylated PEG-lipid. The functionalization of PP C-CP fibers with the synthesized LTLs is a simple, but highly efficient, method to generate novel stationary phases with a variety of functionalities for solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography.

Head group-functionalized poly(ethyleneglycol)-lipid (PEG-lipid) surface modification for highly selective analyte extractions on capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers.

Polypropylene (PP) capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers were modified by adsorption of a head group-functionalized lipid to generate analyte-specific surfaces for application as a stationary phase in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or solid phase extraction (SPE). The aliphatic moiety of the lipid adsorbs strongly to the hydrophobic PP surface, with the hydrophilic active head groups orienting themselves toward the more polar mobile phase, thus allowing for interactions with the desired solutes. Initial proof-of-concept was achieved by adsorbing a biotin-poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized lipid to the surface of the PP C-CP fibers. Surface modification and uniformity was evaluated by binding streptavidin labeled with Texas Red (SAv-TR) to the biotin moiety. Isolation of SAv-TR from a mixture in neat buffer and in cleared lysate demonstrated the capability of the modified fibers to extract an analyte of interest from a complex viscous mixture. It is believed that this surface modification approach is generally applicable to a diversity of selective protein immobilization applications, including clinical diagnostics and preparative scale HPLC on C-CP fibers as well as to other hydrophobic supports.

Initial evaluation of protein A modified capillary-channeled polymer fibers for the capture and recovery of immunoglobulin G.

A novel protein A affinity chromatography stationary phase has been developed from polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fibers modified with a recombinant protein A ligand for the capture and recovery of immunoglobulin G (IgG) with high specificity and yield. An SPE micropipette tip format was employed so that solvent, protein, and antibody consumption was minimized. The adsorption modification of the fiber surfaces with protein A was evaluated as a function of feed concentration and volume. Optimal modification of the fiber surface with protein A yielded a 5.7 mg/mL (bed volume) ligand capacity with the modified fibers showing stability across numerous solvent environments. Performance was evaluated through exposure to human IgG and myoglobin, individually and as a mixture. Myoglobin was used as a surrogate for host cell proteins common to growth media. The efficacy of the selective binding to the ligand is demonstrated by the 2.9:1 (IgG/protein A) binding stoichiometry. Elution with 0.1 M acetic acid yielded an 89% recovery of the captured IgG based on absorption measurements of the collected eluents. Regeneration was possible with 10 mM NaOH. Protein A modified polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fibers show promising initial results as an affinity phase for efficient capture and purification of IgG.

Loading characteristics and chemical stability of headgroup-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid ligand tethers on polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fibers.

Polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fibers have been modified by adsorption of headgroup-functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-lipids to generate a species-specific stationary phase. In order to study ligand binding characteristics, a fluorescein-labeled poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid was used as a model system. Breakthrough curves and frontal analysis were employed to characterize the surface loading characteristics across a range of lipid concentrations and mobile phase flow rates. Efficient mass transfer and fluid transport yield a linear adsorption isotherm up to the maximum loading concentration of 3 mg/mL, at a linear velocity of 57.1 mm/s. Under these conditions, the dynamic binding capacity was found to be 1.52 mg/g of fiber support. Variation of the linear velocity from 8.6 to 57.1 mm/s showed only small changes in breakthrough volume. The maximum capacity of 1.8 mg/g is found under conditions of a load velocity of 34.2 mm/s and a concentration of 3 mg/mL lipid. Exposure of the lipid modified fibers to several challenge solvents reveals a chemically robust system, with only 50% acetonitrile and hexanes able to disrupt the lipid adsorption. The straightforward capillary-channeled polymer fiber surface modification with headgroup-functionalized lipids provides both a diverse yet practically robust ligand tethering system.

Evaluation of loading characteristics and IgG binding performance of Staphylococcal protein A on polypropylene capillary-channeled polymer fibers.

The loading characteristics of recombinant Staphyloccocus aureus protein A (rSPA) on polypropylene (PP) capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers were investigated through breakthrough curves and frontal analysis. The dynamic adsorption data was fit to various isotherm models to assess the possible mode of rSPA-PP fiber adsorption. Among them, the Langmuir-linear model fit the experimental data best, suggesting a two-stage mechanism of adsorption. The first stage involves the formation of a monolayer coverage, which follows the Langmuir isotherm. When the adsorbate concentration increases, solute starts to adsorb onto the already adsorbed layer, following a linear adsorption response. The relationship between the rSPA loading and flow rate and column length was also investigated. These two parameters are related through the residence time of rSPA in the column. It was determined that loading at the flow rate of 0.5 mL min(-1) (∼28 mm s(-1)) with a 1×10(-5) M (0.5 mg mL(-1)) rSPA feed concentration on a 30-cm (0.762 mm i.d.) column could conveniently produce a reasonable binding capacity of rSPA on PP surface within only 6 min. Under those conditions, the rSPA binding at 50% breakthrough was found to be ∼2.1 mg g(-1) fiber. Operation of the rSPA-modified columns across ten complete processing cycles using clean-in-place conditions (including urea, guanidine HCl, and NaOH) commonly used in the bioprocessing industry allows assessment of the robustness of the rSPA capture layers. In all cases, the robustness was quite good, with the relative responses providing insights to the rSPA/PP surface structure.

'Liquid litmus': chemosensory pH-responsive photonic ionic liquids.

We report on the founding member of a unique class of luminescent ionic liquids integrating a photoacidic anion that responds to the presence of both condensed- and gas-phase basicity; the analytical response is ratiometric in nature, visible to the naked eye, and offers fascinating prospects in smart photofluids, liquid logic gates, electronic noses, and sensory inks.