| abstract |
A solid phase magnetic support having a hydrophilic surface, a method of making the support, and a method of using the support for peptide synthesis are provided. The solid phase magnetic support is synthesized from a starting material which is a magnetic polystyrene polymer bead which has a plurality of polystyrene coated metal oxide particles randomly distributed in a polystyrene matrix having chloromethyl groups. Hydrophilic long chain hydrocarbon spacer arms, such as polyalkylene diamine molecules are coupled with sonication to the chloromethyl groups. Each spacer arm is provided with a terminal amine for linking to a first amino acid. Preferably, the terminal amine on the spacer arm is provided by a low molecular weight linker molecule which can be acid cleaved from the spacer arm. However, the spacer arm may be derivatized and linked to a first amino acid which cannot be acid cleaved from the spacer arm. The inventive support can be used for automated peptide synthesis or as a support for a bound ligand in bioassays. The support is held in place magnetically while the surrounding solution is siphoned off allowing simultaneous separation of the support bound component from the reactants in solution and washing. |