Preparation of Protein Nanoparticles Using NTA End Functionalized Polystyrenes on the Interface of a Multi-Laminated Flow Formed in a Microchannel

• Published in: Micromachines (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 10
• Main Authors: Jeon, Hyeong, Lee, Chae, Kim, Moon, Nguyen, Xuan, Park, Dong, Kim, Hyung, Go, Jeung, Paik, Hyun-jong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Antigens; Channels; Conjugation; Electron microscopy; Fluorescence; Histidine; Image transmission; Laminar flow; lamination flow; Microchannels; microfluidic synthesis; Nanoparticles; Nitrilotriacetic acid; Polystyrene resins; protein nanoparticles; protein-polymer hybrid; Proteins; Scanning electron microscopy; Self assembly; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2072-666X; 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi8010010

This paper challenges the production of the protein nanoparticles using the conjugation of Ni2+ complexed nitrilotriacetic acid end-functionalized polystyrene (Ni-NTA-PS) and histidine tagged GFP (His-GFP) hybrid. The microfluidic synthesis of the protein nanoparticle with the advantages of a uniform size, a fast reaction, and a precise control of preparation conditions is examined. The self-assembly occurs on the interfacial surface of the multi-laminated laminar flow stably formed in the microchannel. The clogging of the produced protein nanoparticles on the channel surface is solved by adding a retarding inlet channel. The size and shape of the produced protein nanoparticles are measured by the analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and the attachment of the protein is visualized with a green fluorescent image. Future research includes the encapsulation of vaccines and the coating of antigens on the protein surface.