Synthetic Haptens and Monoclonal Antibodies to the Cyanotoxin Anatoxin‐a

Early warning systems for monitoring toxic events may benefit from the availability of monoclonal antibodies enabling the sensitive and specific detection of anatoxin‐a, a cyanotoxin involved in numerous cases of animal poisoning resulting from toxic algal blooms in freshwaters. Through the synthesis of three functionalized derivatives of anatoxin‐a, we have succeeded in generating the first‐ever reported immunoreagents (bioconjugates and antibodies) suitable for the development of immunoanalytical approaches aimed at rapid and onsite detection of this harmful cyanotoxin.     

Translating Molecular Recognition into a Pressure Signal to enable Rapid,Sensitive, and Portable Biomedical Analysis

Herein, we demonstrate that a very familiar, yet underutilized, physical parameter—gas pressure—can serve as signal readout for highly sensitive bioanalysis. Integration of a catalyzed gas‐generation reaction with a molecular recognition component leads to significant pressure changes, which can be measured with high sensitivity using a low‐cost and portable pressure meter. This new signaling strategy opens up a new way for simple, portable, yet highly sensitive biomedical analysis in a variety of settings.     

Malonic Acid Diazoesters for C−H Insertion Crosslinking (CHic) Reactions: A Versatile Method for the Generation of Tailor‐Made Surfaces

A simple and versatile method for the modification of a broad spectrum of surfaces with thin polymer films through the thermally or photochemically induced generation of surface‐attached polymer networks is reported. The system is based on copolymers containing diazomalonate groups, which can be activated by heat or light. To this end, the copolymers are deposited from solution onto solid substrates by standard techniques of thin‐film deposition (spin coating, dip coating). Upon activation the diazomalonate group decomposes and forms a carbene, which induces C−H insertion crosslinking (CHic) reactions. In the course of this process network formation and covalent surface attachment occur at the same time. The crosslinking process proceeds very rapidly, especially when the carbenes generated in the activation process cannot undergo Wolff‐rearrangement. The presented system can be used for the generation of a wide range of polymer layers and microstructures on a broad spectrum of surfaces.     

Highly Multiplexed Single‐Cell In Situ Protein Analysis with Cleavable Fluorescent Antibodies

Limitations on the number of proteins that can be quantified in single cells in situ impede advances in our deep understanding of normal cell physiology and disease pathogenesis. Herein, we present a highly multiplexed single‐cell in situ protein analysis approach that is based on chemically cleavable fluorescent antibodies. In this method, antibodies tethered to fluorophores through a novel azide‐based cleavable linker are utilized to detect their protein targets. After fluorescence imaging and data storage, the fluorophores coupled to the antibodies are efficiently cleaved without loss of protein target antigenicity. Upon continuous cycles of target recognition, fluorescence imaging, and fluorophore cleavage, this approach has the potential to quantify over 100 different proteins in individual cells at optical resolution. This single‐cell in situ protein profiling technology will have wide applications in signaling network analysis, molecular diagnosis, and cellular targeted therapies.