Biotin Coated Surfaces

Biotin, or vitamin H (MW 244,31), is a small naturally occurring cofactor that is present in every living cell in very minute amounts ( usually less than 0,0001 % ). The biotin molecule normally exists bound to proteins ( such as pyruvate carboxylase ) through its valeric acid carboxylic group by an amide bond to lysine side-chain amines.

Biotin coated surfaces offer a powerful instrument to carry out one of the most useful interactions in immunochemistry that involves the specificity binding of biotin to the avidin or streptavidin. This binding shows a great constant of affinity (10 – 15 M).

The polystyrene optical features don’t change, allowing the modified surface to be used as a valid tool to carry out biological tests.

This surface shows its usefulness for these applications: