Regioselective nitrilotriacetic acid-cellulose-nickel-complexes for immobilisation of His6-tag proteins

The molecular and supramolecular structural design of cellulose derivatives represents important synthetic and structure analytical aspects of cellulose chemistry. Such tailored cellulose product can be used as substrate for proteins and biocatalysts. New cellulose derivatives, modified with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) residues, were synthesised by a nucleophilic substitution reaction starting from cellulose tosylates. These derivatives are able to form clear and thin films on glass surfaces and show remarkable complexation properties concerning nickel(II). The immobilisation of His-tag proteins succeeded on the surface of the transparent cellulose films. The detection of the specific cellulose-protein-binding results from optical measurements of fluorescence effects transmitted by optically marked synthetic proteins designed de novo.