COLL 11 |
| Rachel Kasinskas and Efrosini Kokkoli. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 |
| The goal of this study is to synthesize and characterize a peptide-amphiphile that specifically recognizes and binds fractalkine, a chemokine expressed on the endothelium at sites of inflammation, for the purpose of decorating drug delivery systems and improve their specificity for the target. We have successfully synthesized such a peptide that mimics a fragment of the N-Terminus of the Fractalkine Receptor (NTFR) and its specific binding affinity for fractalkine has been investigated using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) via imaging and adhesion force measurements. In order to show specificity, fractalkine and integrin adhesion receptors are immobilized onto AFM tips and force measurements between these two molecules and bioartificial membranes of the NTFR peptide-amphiphile have been measured. Our data show that our new molecule binds preferentially to fractalkine. The effect of different parameters will be discussed, such as, the temperature and the design and presentation of the peptide-amphiphile at the interface. |
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Nanoscale Imaging of Biological Systems
Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry |