Optimization of functionalized polymer layers for specific targeting of mobile receptors on cell surfaces.

ABSTRACT: The reversible binding between a planar polymer layer functionalized by ligands and a planar cell surface containing different densities of mobile receptors has been studied by Monte Carlo simulations. Using the acceptance-ratio method, the distance-dependent profiles for the average number of ligands bound to receptors, the total free energy for the polymer layer-cell surface interaction and the interaction force were obtained. Four main design parameters for the polymer layer were considered: the degree of functionalization, chain degree of polymerization, polymer grafting density and the binding energy for the ligand-receptor interaction. We found that an increase in the degree of functionalization or in the absolute energy of ligand-receptor binding results in a larger number of ligand

SUBMITTER: Hagy MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2731659 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature