An Activatable Theranostic for Targeted Cancer Therapy and Imaging

A new theranostic strategy is described. It is based on the use of an “all in one” prodrug, namely the biotinylated piperazine‐rhodol conjugate 4 a . This conjugate, which incorporates the anticancer drug SN‐38, undergoes self‐immolative cleavage when exposed to biological thiols. This leads to the tumor‐targeted release of the active SN‐38 payload along with fluorophore 1 a . This release is made selective as the result of the biotin functionality. Fluorophore 1 a is 32‐fold more fluorescent than prodrug 4 a . It permits the delivery and release of the SN‐38 payload to be monitored easily in vitro and in vivo, as inferred from cell studies and ex vivo analyses of mice xenografts derived from HeLa cells, respectively. Prodrug 4 a also displays anticancer activity in the HeLa cell murine xenograft tumor model. On the basis of these findings we suggest that the present strategy, which combines within a single agent the key functions of targeting, release, imaging, and treatment, may have a role to play in cancer diagnosis and therapy.     

Chitosan biotinylation and electrodeposition for selective protein assembly

An alternative route to protein assembly at surfaces based on using the unique capabilities of biological materials for the spatially selective assembly of proteins is described. Specifically, the stimuli-responsive properties of aminopolysaccharide chitosan are combined with the molecular-recognition capabilities of biotin-streptavidin binding. Biotinylated chitosan retains its stimuli-responsive properties and is capable of electrodepositing at specific electrode addresses. Once deposited, it is capable of binding streptavidin, which can mediate the subsequent assembly of biotinylated proteins. Spatially selective protein assembly using biotinylated Protein A and fluorescently-labeled antibodies is demonstrated.     

Assessment of solvent residues accessibility using three Sulfo-NHS-biotin reagents in parallel: application to footprint changes of a methyltransferase upon binding its substrate

NHS-biotin modification as a specific lysine probe coupled to mass spectrometry detection is increasingly used over the past years for assessing amino acid accessibility of proteins or complexes as an alternative when well-established methods are challenged. We present a strategy based on usage in parallel of three commercially available reagents (Sulfo-NHS-biotin, Sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin, and Sulfo-NHS-LC-LC-biotin) to efficiently assess the solvent accessibility of amino acids using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The same qualitative pattern of reactivity was observed for these three reagents on the THUMPalpha protein at four reagent/polypeptide molar ratios (2 : 1, 6 : 1, 13 : 1, and 26 : 1). Peptide assignment of the detected ions gains in accuracy because of the triple redundancy due to specific increments of monoisotopic mass. These reagents are a good alternative to isotope labeling when using only a single MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. We observed that hydroxyl groups of serine and tyrosine residues were also modified by these Sulfo-NHS-biotin reagents. The low amount of protein required and the method's simplicity make this procedure accessible and affordable in order to obtain topological information on proteins difficult to purify. This method was used to identify two lysine residues of the TrmG10 methyltransferase from Pyrococcus abyssi that were differentially reactive, modified in the protein but not in the tRNA-protein complex.     

Novel Enzyme-Linked Aptamer Assay for the Determination of Aflatoxin B1 in Peanuts

Abstract

A novel enzyme-linked aptamer assay is reported for the determination of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). AFB₁ can competitively bind with the immobilized biotin-aptamer and release biotin complementary DNA, leading to the gradual fading of the detection system color with increasing of AFB₁ concentration. In the absence of AFB₁, the biotinylated complementary DNA is not be released from the fixed aptamer. Therefore, the enzyme reaction occurs in the detection system. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the proposed method possessed a wide linear range for AFB₁ from 1 to 80?ng/mL (R² of 0.990) with a low detection limit of 0.36?ng/mL. The method was then applied to detect uncontaminated peanuts fortified with different concentrations of AFB₁. The recovery values were from 82.60% to 94.43%, which indicated the proposed method may be used to detect AFB₁ in food and has potential for the development of test kits.     

PEG-PLA block copolymer as potential drug carrier: preparation and characterization

Diblock and multiblock copolymers composed of a poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) or poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) core with a hydrophilic chain of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared. These copolymers, in which the core is connected to PEG through a polyfunctional molecule such as citric, mucic, or tartaric acid, may be used to form nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. Branched copolymers were prepared by direct amidation between the polyfunctional acid and methoxy PEGamine, followed by ring-opening polymerization of lactide or trimethyl carbonate to form the PLA and PTMC block copolymers. In addition, a complex multiblock copolymer of biotin-PEG-poly[lactic-co-(glycolic acid)] (PLGA) for application in an avidin-biotin system was prepared for possible design of nanospheres with targeting properties. Studies of drug release from polymeric systems containing multiblock copolymers and studies of polymer degradation were also performed.     

One Pot Synthesis of Surface PEGylated Core–Shell Microparticles by Suspension Polymerization with Surface Enrichment of Biotin/Avidin Conjugation

Core–shell microparticles that consist of poly(vinyl neodecanoate) (VND) crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (EGDMA) as the core and poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA) ( = 360 or = 526 g · mol^?1) as the shell have been synthesized using suspension polymerization by a conventional free radical polymerization process. Interfacial tension and stability tests show that PEGMA acts as an amphiphilic macromonomer and is located on the oil/water interface of the suspension system, thus forming an outer layer during the polymerization. Kinetic studies of the monomers' conversion of VND, EGDMA, and PEGMA have been carried out using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. EGDMA and PEGMA were found to have faster reaction rates compared to VND. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy showed that the polymerization of these particles starts from the shell and finishes towards the core. Consequently, the resulting microsphere is found to have a multi‐layer structure. Biotin was covalently bound to the surface by the PEGMA hydroxy groups. Conjugation of biotin with streptavidin PE (phycoerythrin) was subsequently carried out. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm the presence of fluorescing streptavidin. The amount of avidin conjugated to the microspheres was calculated by the release of a 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid/avidin complex using UV/vis spectroscopy. One avidin molecule was found to occupy 7 nm² on the surface of the microspheres.