Binding of Proteins to Phytoglycogen Nanoparticles, a Novel, Sustainable, Soft Colloid

Phytoglycogen is a glucose polymer that occurs naturally in the form of highly branched, compact nanoparticles. Because of their tree-like or dendrimeric structure, phytoglycogen nanoparticles have unique properties, such as a strong interaction with water and uniformity in size, which makes them attractive for use in applications ranging from cosmetics to drug delivery. Many of these applications rely on the binding of small molecules onto phytoglycogen nanoparticles. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is a sensitive experimental technique, based on the resonant absorption of light within an ultrathin gold film, that can be used to measure the binding kinetics and affinities of small molecules. I will discuss our success in creating a stable phytoglycogen-functionalized gold surface, which has allowed us to use SPR to quantify the binding of various proteins to the phytoglycogen nanoparticles.