Affinity-based copolymer coating for oriented protein immo-bilization in biosensor development

Effective protein immobilization is a critical step in biosensor development, as it ensures the stability, functionality, and orientation of biomolecules on the sensor surface. Here, we present a novel affinity-based terpolymer coating designed to enhance protein immobilization for biosensor applications. The novelty relies in the incorporation of ni-trilotriacetic acid (NTA) ligands directly into the polymeric chains, facilitating histi-dine-tagged protein oriented binding through a robust metal-chelating interaction. To validate the system, magnetic microbeads coated with the polymer were tested for their ability to bind native and His-tagged proteins. Results demonstrated superior binding capacity, enhanced stability, and reversibility of the interactions compared to traditional coatings which immobilize proteins through nucleophile reactions with amine residues. Moreover, enzyme immobilization tests confirmed that the polymer preserves enzymatic activity, highlighting its potential for biosensor applications requiring functional bio-molecules. This innovative polymeric coating offers a fast, versatile, and scalable solution for next-generation biosensor platforms, paving the way for improved sensitivity, reliability, and accessibility in diagnostic and analytical technologies.