Using bifunctional polymers presenting vancomycin and fluorescein groups to direct anti-fluorescein antibodies to self-assembled monolayers presenting D-alanine-D-alanine groups

This paper describes the synthesis of bifunctional polyacrylamides containing pendant vancomycin (Van) and fluorescein groups, and the use of these polymers to direct antibodies against fluorescein to self-assembled monolayers (SAMS) presenting D-alanine-D-alanine (DADA) groups. These polymers bind biospecifically to these SAMS via interactions between the DADA and Van groups and serve as a molecular bridge between the anti-fluorescein antibodies and the SAM. The binding events were characterized using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The paper demonstrates that polyvalent, biospecific, noncovalent interactions between a polymer and a surface can be used to tailor the properties of the surface in molecular recognition. It also represents a first step toward the design of polymers that direct arbitrarily chosen antibodies to the surfaces of cells.