Synthesis and Characterization of an Immunodiagnosis Protein-Latex for Detecting the Chagas Disease through Agglutination Tests

GONZÁLEZ, V. D.; GUGLIOTTA, L. M.; MEIRA, G. R.

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Congreso; IUPAC World Polymer Congress Macro 2006; 2006

A novel immunodiagnosis reagent for detecting the Chagas Disease was developed, by coupling the Ag36 antigen of Trypanosoma cruzi onto two (carboxylated and core-shell) latexes. The latexes were producted by batch and semibatchemulsion copolymerizations of styrene (St) and methacrylic acid (MAA) onto polystyrene (PS) latex seeds. Fordetermining the appropriate conditions for the physical and chemical coupling of the Ag36 antigen, Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein. The chemical bonding experiments of both BSA and Ag36 onto thecarboxylated latexes involved the use of a carbodiimide as an intermediate reagent. Finally, immunoassays were carried out to test the latex-protein complexes.