Attachment of water-soluble proteins to the surface of (magnetizable) phospholipid colloids via NeutrAvidin-derivatized phospholipids

The present work describes the incorporation of a functionalized phospholipid derivative into the phospholipid bilayer of both classical small unilamellar vesicles and recently developed magnetoliposomes, resulting in unique biocolloid structures onto which peripheral water-soluble enzymes can be immobilized on the surfaces. In the first part of this work, a synthesis protocol is outlined for a universal membrane anchor for water-soluble proteins. Dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine-N-dodecanyl was used as the starting lipid molecule. After activation of the terminal -COOH group, alpha,omega-diamino-poly(ethylene glycol), used as a hydrophilic, flexible spacer arm, was coupled covalently. Subsequently, NeutrAvidin was bound, after blocking the free -NH(2) groups with citraconic anhydride. In the second part, the resulting lipid-NeutrAvidin derivative was incorporated into small unilamellar vesicles comprised of dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol. FPLC with Superdex 200 as the column matrix clearly showed that biotinylated alkaline phosphatase, which served as a representative model of water-soluble proteins, was attached to the vesicles. Furthermore, magnetoliposomes, constructed of the same type of phospholipid molecules, were presented as interesting colloids to assess the degree of enzyme immobilization in a rapid and elegant manner. Potential applications that can emerge from this study are briefly discussed.