Semi-wet peptide/protein array using supramolecular hydrogel

The protein microarray is a crucial biomaterial for the rapid and high-throughput assay of many biological events where proteins are involved. In contrast to the DNA microarray, it has not been sufficiently established because of protein instability under the conventional dry conditions. Here we report a novel semi-wet peptide/protein microarray using a supramolecular hydrogel composed of glycosylated amino acetate. The spontaneous gel-formation and amphiphilic properties of this supramolecular hydrogel have been applied to a new type of peptide/protein gel array that is compatible with enzyme assays. Aqueous cavities created in the gel matrix are a suitable semi-wet reaction medium for enzymes, whereas the hydrophobic domains of the fibre are useful as a unique site for monitoring the reaction. This array system overcomes several drawbacks of conventional protein chips, and thus can have potential applications in pharmaceutical research and diagnosis.