A fluorescence-based high throughput assay for the determination of small molecule−human serum albumin protein binding

Herein, we describe the development of a fluorescence-based high throughput assay to determine the small molecule binding towards human serum albumin (HSA). This innovative competition assay is based on the use of a novel fluorescent small molecule Red Mega 500 with unique spectroscopic and binding properties. The commercially available probe displays a large fluorescence intensity difference between the protein-bound and protein-unbound state. The competition of small molecules for HSA binding in the presence of probe resulted in low fluorescence intensities. The assay was evaluated with the library of pharmacological active compounds (LOPAC) small molecule library of 1,280 compounds identifying known high protein binders. The small molecule competition of HSA?Red Mega 500 binding was saturable at higher compound concentrations and exhibited IC₅₀ values between 3 and 24 μM. The compound affinity toward HSA was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry indicating that the new protein binding assay is a valid high throughput assay to determine plasma protein binding.

The interaction of platinum-based drugs with native biologically relevant proteins

This study focuses on the identification of the products that are formed upon binding of therapeutically relevant platinum complexes to proteins like β-lactoglobulin A (LGA), human serum albumin (HSA), or human hemoglobin (HB). The respective proteins were incubated with the platinum-based anticancer drugs cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. LGA was selected as the model protein in addition to the two most abundant blood proteins HSA and HB. In case of the model protein, the effect of free thiol groups on the affinity of cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin was investigated by means of liquid chromatography electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-ToF-MS). The reduced form of LGA, which contains four free thiol groups more than the native LGA, shows a much higher affinity to the platinum-based drugs. By means of liquid chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the reaction behavior of the platinum-based drugs towards HSA and HB was investigated under different conditions considering the chloride concentration (4 or 100 mM) and the incubation time (24 and 48 h). In case of carboplatin, less than 6 % protein-bound platinum was detected. However, both cisplatin and oxaliplatin display a high affinity to the proteins investigated. Further information was obtained by means of LC/ESI-ToF-MS. In case of oxaliplatin, the complex [Pt(DACH)]²⁺ (DACH?=?C₆N₂H₁₄) was identified interacting with HSA and HB. For cisplatin, different results were observed for the two proteins. The complex [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl]⁺ interacted predominantly with HSA and [Pt(NH₃)₂]²⁺ with HB.

Selection and identification of ssDNA aptamers recognizing zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a nonsteroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum on maize and barley. Because most current methods of ZEN detection rely on the use of low-stability antibodies or expensive equipment, we sought to develop a rapid, low-cost determination method using aptamers instead of antibodies as the specific recognition ligands. This work describes the isolation and identification of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers recognizing ZEN using the modified systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment methodology based on magnetic beads. After 14 rounds of repeated selection, a highly enriched ssDNA library was sequenced and 12 representative sequences were assayed for their affinity and specificity. The best aptamer, 8Z₃₁, with a dissociation constant (K _d) of 41?±?5 nM, was successfully applied in the specific detection of ZEN in binding buffer and in real samples based on a magnetic separation/preconcentration procedure. This analytical method provided a linear range from 3.14?×?10^?9 to 3.14?×?10^?5 M for ZEN, and the detection limit was 7.85?×?10^?10 M. The selected aptamers are expected to be used in the potential development of affinity columns, biosensors, or other analytical systems for the determination of ZEN in food and agricultural products.

Biomimetic chromatographic analysis of selenium species: Application for the estimation of their pharmacokinetic properties

The retention behavior of selenites, selenates, seleno-dl-methionine, selenocystine, selenocystamine, selenourea, dimethyl selenide, and dimethyl diselenide was investigated by means of biomimetic liquid chromatography. For this purpose, two immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) columns, namely, IAM.PC.DD2 and IAM.PC.MG, and two immobilized plasma protein columns, human serum albumin (HSA) and α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) columns, were employed using different mobile phase conditions in respect to pH and buffer composition. In general, satisfactory interrelations between retention factors obtained with the two IAM stationary phases and HSA/AGP columns were obtained. Large differences were observed between biomimetic retention factors and octanol–water logD values, since the latter fail to describe electrostatic interactions. In contrast, despite the column diversity, the net retention outcome on all four biomimetic columns was quite similar, especially in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline, which by its effective shielding alleviates the differences between the stationary phases. Of the two IAM columns, IAM.PC.DD2 showed better performance when compared with HSA and AGP columns as well as to octanol–water partitioning. Biomimetic chromatographic indices were further used to estimate the percentage of human oral absorption and plasma protein binding of the eight selenium species investigated, according to equations previously reported in the literature. The estimated values of human oral absorption imply moderate absorption only for dimethyl diselenide, which also may exhibit considerable plasma protein binding. Moderate affinity for plasma proteins should also be expected for dimethyl selenide and selenocystamine.

Preparation of chlorocholine chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent-modified silica and an examination of the ion exchange properties of modified silica as a Lewis adduct

Chlorocholine chloride/urea (ClChCl–urea), a deep eutectic solvent (DES), was applied successfully to the modification of silica. The resulting modified silica was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, and elemental analysis. Based on the ClChCl–urea modification of silica, the ClChCl–urea-modified silica is a Lewis adduct with ion exchange properties, and ferulic acid was adsorbed on the ClChCl–urea-modified silica via an ion exchange process. The adsorbed percentage of ferulic acid increased with the increasing amount of modified silica, and a high adsorbed percentage of 89 % could be obtained by the ion exchange process. The Freundlich isotherm used to describe the adsorption of ferulic acid on the modified silica by ion exchange showed a good correlation (R ²?=?0.93). Based on the characterization of the structure and the analysis of the ion exchange property of the ClChCl–urea-modified silica, the modified silica as a potential medium can be applied in some analytical technologies such as solid phase extraction, chromatography, and so on.

Biocatalytic reactors based on ribonuclease A immobilized on macroporous monolithic supports

Immobilized enzyme reactors (IMERs) produced by the covalent attachment of ribonuclease A to macroporous methacrylate-based monolithic supports using different experimental approaches are discussed and compared. Enzyme immobilization was carried out by direct covalent binding, as well as through attachment via a polymer spacer. The kinetic properties of an IMER operating in either recirculation mode or zonal elution mode were studied. Additionally, the effect of flow rate on the bioconversion efficiency of each IMER sample was examined.

Measuring Positive Cooperativity Using the Direct ESI-MS Assay. Cholera Toxin B Subunit Homopentamer Binding to GM1 Pentasaccharide

Direct electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) assay was used to investigate the stepwise binding of the GM1 pentasaccharide β-D-Galp-(1→3)-β-D-GalpNAc-(1→4)[α-D-Neu5Ac-(2→3)]-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp (GM1os) to the cholera toxin B subunit homopentamer (CTB₅) and to establish conclusively whether GM1os binding is cooperative. Apparent association constants were measured for the stepwise addition of one to five GM1os to CTB₅ at pH 6.9 and 22 °C. The intrinsic association constant, which was established from the apparent association constant for the addition of a single GM1os to CTB₅, was found to be (3.2 ± 0.2) × 10⁶ M^–1. This is in reasonable agreement with the reported value of (6.4 ± 0.3) × 10⁶ M^–1, which was measured at pH 7.4 and 25 °C using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Analysis of the apparent association constants provides direct and unambiguous evidence that GM1os binding exhibits small positive cooperativity. Binding was found to be sensitive to the number of ligand-bound nearest neighbor subunits, with the affinities enhanced by a factor of 1.7 and 2.9 when binding occurs next to one or two ligand-bound subunits, respectively. These findings, which provide quantitative support for the binding model proposed by Homans and coworkers [14], highlight the unique strengths of the direct ESI-MS assay for measuring cooperative ligand binding.

Highly hydrophilic and nonionic poly(2-vinyloxazoline)-grafted silica: a novel organic phase for high-selectivity hydrophilic interaction chromatography

A new hydrophilic and nonionic poly(2-vinyloxazoline)-grafted silica (Sil-VOX _n ) phase was synthesized and applied for the separation of nucleosides and nucleobases in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Polymerization and immobilization onto silica were confirmed by using characterization techniques including ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. The hydrophilicity or wettability of Sil-VOX _n was observed by measuring the contact angle (59.9°). The chromatographic results were compared with those obtained with a conventional HILIC silica column. The Sil-VOX _n phase showed much better separation of polar test analytes than the silica column, and the elution order was different. Differences in selectivity between these two columns indicate that the stationary phase cannot function merely as an inert support for a water layer into which the solutes are partitioned from the bulk mobile phase. To elucidate the interaction mechanism, the separation of dihydroxybenzene isomers was performed on both columns in normal-phase liquid chromatography. Sil-VOX _n was very sensitive to the dipole moments of the positional isomers of polycyclic aromatic compounds in normal-phase liquid chromatography. The interaction mechanism for Sil-VOX _n in HILIC separation is also described.

Retention and elution of precious metals on cyano-modified solid phase microparticle sorbent

We report on a study on the retention and elution of ions of the precious metals Au, Ir, Pd, Pt, Rh and Ru, sometimes in the presence of ions of the nonprecious elements Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Te. A commercial cyano-modified microparticle-based solid phase was used as a sorbent and hydrochloric acid in various concentrations for sample solution and elution. Only Au and Pd (in the form of their chloro complexes) were retained, and Au is found to have a much higher affinity for the sorbent compared to Pd. In addition to the affinity of the metal towards the functional groups, the retention behavior of the precious metals seems to be mainly influenced by steric factors of their respective chloro complexes. Elution with 7.5 M HCl does not require the addition of organic eluent as required in other cases. The method can separate Au or both Au and Pd, from hydrochloric acid solutions containing ions of other precious metals or nonprecious elements. The sorbent was applied to recover gold from a mineral digest containing large amounts of metals such as Fe, Pb, Te, Cu, Ni and Zn.

Development of a stable biosensor based on a SiO2 nanosheet–Nafion–modified glassy carbon electrode for sensitive detection of pesticides

SiO₂ nanosheets (SNS) have been prepared by a chemical method using montmorillonite as raw material and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. SiO₂ nanosheet–Nafion nanocomposites with excellent conductivity, catalytic activity, and biocompatibility provided an extremely hydrophilic surface for biomolecule adhesion. Chitosan was used as a cross-linker to immobilize acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Nafion was used as a protective membrane to efficiently improve the stability of the AChE biosensor. The AChE biosensor showed favorable affinity for acetylthiocholine chloride and catalyzed the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine chloride with an apparent Michaelis–Menten constant of 134 μM to form thiocholine, which was then oxidized to produce a detectable and fast response. Based on the inhibition by pesticides of the enzymatic activity of AChE, detection of the amperometric response from thiocholine on the biosensor is a simple and effective way to biomonitor exposure to pesticides. Under optimum conditions, the biosensor detected methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, and carbofuran at concentrations ranging from 1.0?×?10^?12 to 1?×?10^?10?M and from 1.0?×?10^?10 to 1?×?10^?8?M. The detection limits for methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, and carbofuran were 5?×?10^?13?M. The biosensor developed exhibited good sensitivity, stability, reproducibility, and low cost, thus providing a new promising tool for analysis of enzyme inhibitors.

Preparation of an amperometric sensor for norfloxacin based on molecularly imprinted grafting photopolymerization

A sensitive amperometric sensor for norfloxacin (NF) was introduced. The receptor layer was prepared by molecularly imprinted photopolymerization of acrylamide and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate on the surface of a gold electrode. The binding mechanism of the molecularly imprinted polymer was explored by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The chemosensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), electrochemical impedance (EI), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrode prepared by photopolymerization has a better recognition ability to template molecules than that of electropolymerization and NIP. Some parameters affecting sensor response were optimized. Norfloxacin was detected by measurements of an amperometric i–t curve. The linear relationships between current and logarithmic concentration are obtained from 1.0?×?10^?9 to 1.0?×?10^?3?mol?L^?1. The detection limit of the sensor was 1.0?×?10^?10?mol?L^?1. The proposed method is sensitive, simple, and cheap, and is applied to detect NF in human urine successfully.

Preparation of a boronate-functionalized affinity hybrid monolith for specific capture of glycoproteins

A novel strategy for preparation of a boronate affinity hybrid monolith was developed using a Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction of an alkyne–boronate ligand with an azide-functionalized monolithic intermediate. An azide-functionalized hybrid monolith was first synthesized via a single-step procedure to provide reactive sites for click chemistry; then the alkyne–boronate ligands were covalently immobilized on the azide-functionalized hybrid monolith via an in-column CuAAC reaction to form a boronate affinity hybrid monolith under mild conditions. The boronate affinity monolith was characterized and evaluated by means of elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The boronate affinity hybrid monolith exhibited excellent specificity toward nucleosides and glycoproteins, which were chosen as test cis-diol-containing compounds under neutral conditions. The binding capacity of the monolith for the glycoprotein ovalbumin was 2.36 mg?·?g^-1 at pH 7.0. The practicability of the boronate affinity hybrid monolithic material was demonstrated by specific capture of the glycoproteins ovalbumin and ovotransferrin from an egg sample.

Simultaneous serum desalting and total protein determination by macroporous reversed-phase chromatography

Macroporous reversed-phase (mRP) chromatography was successfully used to develop an accurate and precise method for total protein in serum. The limits of detection (0.83 μg, LOD) and quantification (2.51 μg, LOQ) for the mRP method are comparable with those of the widely used micro BCA protein assay. The mRP method can be used to determine the total protein concentration across a wide dynamic range by detecting chromatographic peaks at 215 nm and 280 nm. The method has the added advantage of desalting and denaturing proteins, leading to more complete digestion by trypsin and to better LC–MS–MS identification in shotgun proteomics experiments.

Poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(ethylene imine) block copolymers as templates and catalysts for the in situ formation of monodisperse silica nanospheres

Block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) are efficient catalysts/templates for the formation of uniform silica nanoparticles. Addition of tetraethylorthosilicate to a solution of PEO–PEI or PEI–PEO–PEI block copolymers results in the formation of silica particles with a diameter of ca. 30 nm and narrow size distribution. The particles precipitated with the diblock copolymers can be redispersed in water after isolation as individual nanoparticles. Evidently, block copolymers based on PEO and PEI serve as excellent templates for the biomimetic and “soft” synthesis of silica nanoparticles.

Solid-phase preconcentration of cadmium(II) using amino-functionalized magnetic-core silica-shell nanoparticles, and its determination by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

We report on the synthesis and evaluation of aminated-CoFe₂O₄/SiO₂ nanoparticles that can serve as a selective solid-phase sorbent for the extraction of cadmium ion. The nanoparticles consist of a magnetic CoFe₂O₄ core and an amino-modified silica shell. They can efficiently extract cadmium(II) ion and then can be isolated from the sample solution due to the magnetic nature of the core. The effects of the experimental conditions on the extraction process were optimized. Cadmium was then quantified by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The resulting calibration curve is linear in the concentration range of 0.01–10 μg?L^?1, the instrumental detection limits (3σ) is 3.15 ng?L^?1 and the relative standard deviation is 4.9 % at the 1.0 μg?L^?1 level (for n?=?11). The enrichment factor is 50 (for 50 mL samples), and the adsorbent can be used for at least 45 cycles of preconcentration and elution. The method was applied to the determination of cadmium in environmental water samples, and successfully validated by analyzing two certified reference materials.

Silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles loaded with Cu(II): preparation and application to the purification of bovine serum albumin

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with silica gel were prepared, then functionalized with a tridentate ligand via a silane coupling agent (3-chloropropyl)triethoxysilane, and finally loaded with Cu(II) ions. The resulting materials were characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA techniques. They display strong affinity for BSA with an adsorption capacity as high as 235 mg g^?1 and with a fast (30 min) establishment of adsorption equilibrium. Repetitive adsorptions (6 times) hardly affect the adsorption capability. The kinetics and isotherm of the adsorption of BSA were also investigated.

A thin poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide for voltammetric simultaneous sensing of ascorbic acid and uric acid

We have fabricated, in a single step, carbon ceramic electrodes modified with a poly(acridine orange) film containing reduced graphene oxide. They display electrocatalytic activity to ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) at pH 4.5. The anodic peak potentials of AA and UA are separated by 276 mV so that they can be well resolved in cyclic voltammetry. UA and AA were simultaneously determined in a mixture at working potentials of 170 and 400 mV, respectively. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curves for AA and UA cover the 0.8–5,000 μM and 0.6–900 μM concentration range, respectively, while detection limits are 0.3 μM and 0.2 μM. The electrode was applied to determine AA and UA in urine samples.

Fluorometric sensing of DNA using curcumin encapsulated in nanoparticle-assembled microcapsules prepared from poly(diallylammonium chloride-co-sulfur dioxide)

We report on the synthesis of microcapsules (MCs) containing self-assembled nanoparticles formed from poly[diallylammonium chloride-co-(sulfur dioxide)] in the presence of citrate and silica sol nanoparticles. The MCs are spherical, and SEM and optical microscopy reveal them to have micrometer size. The fluorescent probe curcumin was encapsulated in the MCs and found to be located in the shell. The fluorescence of curcumin in the MCs is altered depending on their microenvironment. Effects of pH and ammonia on the fluorescence of curcumin in the MCs also were studied. The brightness of the probe in the MCs increases on addition of DNA. The effect was used to determine DNA from fish sperm by fluorometry. The association constant (K) is 4?000 mL.g^?1, and the number of binding sites is ~1.0.

Oriented immobilisation of histidine-tagged protein and its application in exploring interactions between ligands and proteins

A method based on reaction with a diazonium salt was developed to immobilise oriented His-tagged protein onto silica gel. The binding efficiency of the phenylamine-group-coated gel was determined to be 65 %, providing a binding capacity of His-tagged protein up to the gram level. Using His-tagged β₂-adrenoceptor (β₂-AR) as a probe, we developed a new mathematical model to elucidate the interactions between the receptor and five ligands (methoxyphenamine, terbutaline, salbutamol, tulobuterol and fenoterol). These drugs proved to only have one type of binding site on the immobilised β₂-AR, yielding higher association constants and numbers of binding sites than random attachment assays. The association constants determined by the new model positively correlated to the values from a radioligand binding method, with a regression equation of y?=?1.75x???7.18 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9807. The oriented method resulted in a high binding capacity and quantitative immobilisation of the His-tagged protein. The proposed model can be used to determine the interactions between the ligands and the immobilised protein with the advantages of drug and time saving.