bioconjugationhttpsenwikipediaorgwikiBioconjugation

Bioconjugation refers to the chemical process of covalently linking two or more biomolecules, such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, or lipids, to create hybrid structures with enhanced or novel properties. This technique is widely used in biochemistry, molecular biology, and biomedical research to develop diagnostic tools, therapeutic agents, and materials for drug delivery.

The process typically involves the selective modification of functional groups on biomolecules, such as amines, thiols, carboxyls, or hydroxyls, using chemical reagents or enzymes. Common conjugation strategies include the formation of amide bonds (e.g., via carbodiimides or EDC/NHS chemistry), disulfide bonds (e.g., maleimide-thiol coupling), or click chemistry reactions (e.g., copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition). Enzymatic methods, such as transglutaminase-mediated conjugation or biotinylation via biotin ligases, offer high specificity and mild reaction conditions.

Bioconjugation enables the creation of bioprobes, such as fluorescently labeled antibodies for imaging or affinity-purified enzymes for assays. In drug development, conjugates like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) improve targeting and reduce off-target effects. Additionally, bioconjugation supports the design of biosensors, nanomaterials, and biomimetic systems for tissue engineering.

The efficiency and selectivity of bioconjugation depend on factors such as reaction conditions, reagent compatibility, and the stability of the resulting linkage. Advances in synthetic biology and nanotechnology continue to expand the applications of bioconjugation, making it a versatile tool in modern biotechnology.