Glycotechnology for decontamination of biological agents: a model study using ricin and biotin-tagged synthetic glycopolymers.

Two types of biotin-tagged glycopolymers carrying lactose or glucose in clusters along the polyacrylamide backbone were prepared and subjected to decontamination analyses with the plant toxin ricin. A buffer solution containing the toxin was treated with one glycopolymer followed by streptavidin-magnetic particles. Supernatant solutions were analyzed with surface plasmon resonance and capillary electrophoresis, and revealed that the lactose glycopolymer "captured" this toxin more effectively than the glucose polymer. Free toxin was not detectable in the supernatant after treatment with the glycopolymer and magnetic particles; >99% decontamination was achieved for this potentially fatal biological toxin.