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    Biomolecule-sensitive hydrogels that undergo volumetric changes in response to a target biomolecule such as glucose and proteins have become increasingly important because of their potential applications as smart biomaterials for constructing self-regulated drug-delivery systems (DDSs) and diagnostic systems. However, there have not been so many studies on biomolecule-sensitive hydrogels, due to difficulties in combining biomolecular recognition abilities with responsive functions within a hydrogel. This chapter introduces some strategies for designing biomolecule-sensitive hydrogels that exhibit swelling/shrinking behavior or sol-gel transition in response to the concentration of a target biomolecule. A standard strategy is to combine the molecular recognition events of biomolecules such as enzymes, lectins and antibodies with responsiveness of pH- and temperature-sensitive polymers. Another strategy uses biomolecular complexes like those of lectin-saccharide and antigen-antibody as dynamic cross-links of hydrogel networks. Designs of biomolecule-sensitive hydrogels will contribute significantly to develop smart DDSs in which specific amounts of drugs can be administered with monitoring specific biomolecules as diagnostic signals for several physiological changes. This chapter provides an overview of important researches about biomolecule-sensitive hydrogels for DDSs and diagnosis, focusing on saccharides, proteins, DNAs, etc. as target biomolecules.
    Biomolecule
    The 3D structures of biomolecules determine their biological function. Established methods in biomolecule structure determination typically require purification, crystallization, or modification of target molecules, which limits their applications for analyzing trace amounts of biomolecules in complex matrices. Here, we developed instruments and methods of mobility capillary electrophoresis (MCE) and its coupling with MS for the 3D structural analysis of biomolecules in the liquid phase. Biomolecules in complex matrices could be separated by MCE and sequentially detected by MS. The effective radius and the aspect ratio of each separated biomolecule were simultaneously determined through the separation by MCE, which were then used as restraints in determining biomolecule conformations through modeling. Feasibility of this method was verified by analyzing a mixture of somatostatin and bradykinin, two peptides with known liquid-phase structures. Proteins could also be structurally analyzed using this method, which was demonstrated for lysozyme. The combination of MCE and MS for complex sample analysis was also demonstrated. MCE and MCE-MS would allow us to analyze trace amounts of biomolecules in complex matrices, which has the potential to be an alternative and powerful biomolecule structure analysis technique.
    Biomolecule
    Citations (31)
    This review summarizes several photochemical methods of immobilization biomolecules on polymer materials in order to enhance its biomedical performance. Proteins such as albumin, polysaccharides such as heparin, other biomolecules such as enzyme, antibody, peptides, DNA fragments and so on are all available by those methods. It can retain the reactivity of immobilized biomolecules and do district designed modification without undermining the substrate performance. Polymer materials immobilized with biomolecules can obtain favorable biocompatibility and biomedical performance.
    Biomolecule
    Biocompatibility
    Polymer substrate
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    We have prepared a variety of biomolecule-responsive hydrogels by using biomolecular complexes as reversible crosslinking points. This paper describes two types of biomolecule-responsive hydrogels that undergo volume changes in response to target biomolecules, which were prepared using biomolecular complexes such as antigen-antibody complexes and saccharide-lectin complexes. One is a biomolecule-crosslinked hydrogel that can swell in response to a target biomolecule and the other is a biomolecule-imprinted hydrogel that can shrink. The antigen-responsive hydrogels as biomolecule-crosslinked hydrogels swelled in the presence of a target antigen due to the dissociation of antigen-antibody complexes that played a role as reversible crosslinking points. On the other hand, the tumor marker glycoprotein-responsive hydrogels as biomolecule-imprinted hydrogels shrank in response to a target glycoprotein due to the complex formation between ligands (lectin and antibody) and the target molecule (saccharide and peptide chains of glycoprotein). This paper focuses on synthetic strategy of the biomolecule-responsive hydrogels and their responsive behavior for target biomolecules.
    Biomolecule
    Biomolecules are the building block of life. Cell which is known as the building of body is made up of these biomolecules. These biomolecules are further made up of inorganic compounds. C, H, N, O is the four major inorganic compounds which make the 94% of the cell. S, P makes 3% of the cell. Biomolecules also called as biological molecule, which are produced by cells and living organisms. The four major types of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
    Biomolecule