Chemically-Addressable Protein Entrapment in Silica Sol-Gels

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Silica-based sol-gel materials as carriers for immobilization of biological species and subsequent controllable release have experienced great examination since past decade. The transparent and robust network possesses inert and stable physicochemical properties, allowing a variety of biomolecules to be successfully entrapped, including proteins, antibodies and antigens, cells. Controlled and effective release is usually achieved by functionalization of the silica matrices to physically cap the pores by modified nanoparticles serving as nanovalves. In this study, fusion proteins with a designed silica-binding peptide tag are immobilized during the sol-gel formation, and subsequently be released with a tag-specified eluent. The release kinetics have been studied under various conditions to demonstrate the chemically-addressable tag-mediated protein sequestration in silica sol-gel matrices.