| Abstract
| - The capability to durably link biological macromolecules to solid supports is fundamental for thedevelopment of biosensors and many diagnostic techniques, as well as for the investigation of biomolecularinteractions such as adhesion of cells onto biomimetic substrates. Here, we describe two simple andreproducible chemical procedures to decorate glass surfaces with specific ligands at a variable and controlledsurface density. The first method uses the streptavidin−biotin complex for further immobilization ofbiotinylated proteins, while the second method performs a direct covalent attachment of proteins to glass.Both procedures were characterized by optical interferometry to measure molecular-layer thickness,fluorescence flow cytometry to evaluate surface density, and qualitative adhesion/aggregation assays toassay protein functionality. Both routes were first applied to streptavidin as a model protein, and extendedto an homotypic calcium-dependent adhesive protein, namely E-cadherin. We mainly discuss key issuesthat must be addressed when control of the protein surface density and passivation of the surface againstnonspecific adsorption are required.
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