Use of metal complexes

Abstract

A method of immobilising a target molecule on a substrate, which comprises exposing the target molecule to the substrate in the presence of a metal complex, wherein the target molecule is an unmodified target molecule, and wherein the metal complex is selected to provide a stable binding interaction between the target molecule and the substrate.

1 . A synthetic substrate having a surface for detection of an analyte in a sample, said surface comprising:
 a target molecule for binding to an analyte in a sample, thereby enabling detection of said analyte in said sample, wherein said target molecule has not been modified to facilitate binding with a metal ion;   a transition metal ion having co-ordination sites bound to said target molecule and said surface, thereby binding said target molecule with said surface;   a compound capable of forming co-ordination bonds with said transition metal ion;   
       wherein said compound is an anion. 
     
     
         2 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of perchlorate, chloride, acetate, bromide, nitrate, perchlorate, alum, sulphate, and hydroxide. 
     
     
         3 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein said transition metal ion is selected from the group consisting of rhodium, platinum, scandium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, ruthenium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, molybdenum, zirconium and zinc. 
     
     
         4 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate takes the form of a bead, membrane, multi-well plate, slide, or capillary column. 
     
     
         5 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a carboxylic acid functionalised, amide functionalised, amine functionalised or ester functionalised substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The substrate of  claim 1 , wherein said target molecule is a protein. 
     
     
         7 . The substrate of  claim 6 , wherein said protein is an antibody.