Carbohydrate-labeled fluorescent microparticles and their binding to lectins.

The preparation of micrometer-sized, cross-linked poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) (PPE) beads to which simple monosaccharides are attached is reported. Mannose, glucose, and galactose derivatives have been synthesized. The fluorescence properties, size distribution, and morphology of these microparticles have been elucidated through fluorimetry, fluorescence confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Protein binding assays were carried out using Concanavalin A tagged with the fluorophore Texas Red, and the resultant bioconjugates were imaged using confocal microscopy. The microparticles are shown to exhibit efficient binding to lectins and may have potential application as fluorescent probes, biocapture agents, or column packing material for affinity chromatography.