Quantitative Screening of Cell‐Surface Gangliosides by Nondestructive Extraction and Hydrophobic Collection

A screening strategy involving designed extractors and collectors was used for the nondestructive quantitation of gangliosides on cell surfaces. The extractors were constructed by functionalizing maleimide silica bubbles with a DNA probe, which contains an endonuclease cleavage site and a boronic acid end to extract cell‐surface sialic acid‐containing compounds through simple centrifugation. After the extractors containing the extracted compounds were incubated with endonuclease, the released oligonucleotide‐gangliosides were selectively collected by silanized collector bubbles through hydrophobic interactions. The in vitro fluorescent signals from the collectors were used for the quantitation of cell‐surface gangliosides. By combining with sialidase cleavage, a protocol for the identification of ganglioside subtypes was developed. The successful monitoring of the regeneration of cell‐surface gangliosides demonstrates the potential of this strategy in probing related biological processes.