An epitope imprinting method on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles for specific recognition of bovine serum album

Abstract

In this study, we reported an epitope imprinting method on the surface of core–shell magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) for the recognition of target bovine serum album (BSA). The epitope was selected as the template molecule from the nonapeptide of surface-exposed C-terminus of BSA. The core–shell magnetic epitope molecularly imprinted polymers (Fe₃O₄@EMIPs) exhibited a specific capture activity for the corresponding target protein, BSA. The magnetic NPs made it easy to separate the imprinted material from solution by an external magnetic field, and the thin imprinted layer presented fast kinetics for the rebinding of the target protein. Moreover, the Fe₃O₄@EMIPs could separate BSA from the bovine blood sample. The epitope imprinting approach combined with magnetic NPs provided an easy and fast method for the specific recognition of BSA.