Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol)
Nonspecific interactions play a significant role in physiological activities, surface chemical modification, and artificial adhesives. However, nonspecificity sometimes causes sticky problems, including surface fouling, decreased target specificity, and artifacts in single-molecule measurements. Adj...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12414 |
| _version_ | 1797586627042738176 |
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| author | Zhengyu Xu Qingtai Li Yaying Huang Kaiqiang Guo Bin Xue Yi Cao Yiran Li |
| author_facet | Zhengyu Xu Qingtai Li Yaying Huang Kaiqiang Guo Bin Xue Yi Cao Yiran Li |
| author_sort | Zhengyu Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nonspecific interactions play a significant role in physiological activities, surface chemical modification, and artificial adhesives. However, nonspecificity sometimes causes sticky problems, including surface fouling, decreased target specificity, and artifacts in single-molecule measurements. Adjusting the liquid pH, using protein-blocking additives, adding nonionic surfactants, or increasing the salt concentration are common methods to minimize nonspecific binding to achieve high-quality data. Here, we report that grafting heteromorphic polyethylene glycol (Y-shape PEG) with two inert terminates could noticeably decrease nonspecific binding. As a proof-of-concept, we performed single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence staining imaging experiments to verify the feasibility of Y-shape PEG in blocking nonspecific interactions. Our results indicate that Y-shape PEG could serve as a prominent and efficient candidate to minimize nonspecificity for scientific and biomedical applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:25:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c335433e6ac14bb593eec8c74e3e6ab8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:25:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-c335433e6ac14bb593eec8c74e3e6ab82023-11-18T23:04:44ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-08-0124151241410.3390/ijms241512414Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol)Zhengyu Xu0Qingtai Li1Yaying Huang2Kaiqiang Guo3Bin Xue4Yi Cao5Yiran Li6Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, ChinaNonspecific interactions play a significant role in physiological activities, surface chemical modification, and artificial adhesives. However, nonspecificity sometimes causes sticky problems, including surface fouling, decreased target specificity, and artifacts in single-molecule measurements. Adjusting the liquid pH, using protein-blocking additives, adding nonionic surfactants, or increasing the salt concentration are common methods to minimize nonspecific binding to achieve high-quality data. Here, we report that grafting heteromorphic polyethylene glycol (Y-shape PEG) with two inert terminates could noticeably decrease nonspecific binding. As a proof-of-concept, we performed single-molecule force spectroscopy and fluorescence staining imaging experiments to verify the feasibility of Y-shape PEG in blocking nonspecific interactions. Our results indicate that Y-shape PEG could serve as a prominent and efficient candidate to minimize nonspecificity for scientific and biomedical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12414single-molecule force spectroscopyatomic force microscopynonspecific interactionsurface modification |
| spellingShingle | Zhengyu Xu Qingtai Li Yaying Huang Kaiqiang Guo Bin Xue Yi Cao Yiran Li Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) International Journal of Molecular Sciences single-molecule force spectroscopy atomic force microscopy nonspecific interaction surface modification |
| title | Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) |
| title_full | Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) |
| title_fullStr | Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) |
| title_short | Blocking Nonspecific Interactions Using Y-Shape Poly(ethylene glycol) |
| title_sort | blocking nonspecific interactions using y shape poly ethylene glycol |
| topic | single-molecule force spectroscopy atomic force microscopy nonspecific interaction surface modification |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/15/12414 |
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