1
|
Dowd S, Sharo C, Abdulmalik O, Elmer J. Optimizing the lyophilization of Lumbricus terrestris erythrocruorin. ARTIFICIAL CELLS, NANOMEDICINE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 52:291-299. [PMID: 38733371 PMCID: PMC11218865 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2024.2352003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Haemorrhagic shock is a leading cause of death worldwide. Blood transfusions can be used to treat patients suffering severe blood loss but donated red blood cells (RBCs) have several limitations that limit their availability and use. To solve the problems associated with donated RBCs, several acellular haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) have been developed to restore the most important function of blood: oxygen transport. One promising HBOC is the naturally extracellular haemoglobin (i.e. erythrocruorin) of Lumbricus terrestris (LtEc). The goal of this study was to maximise the portability of LtEc by lyophilising it and then testing its stability at elevated temperatures. To prevent oxidation, several cryoprotectants were screened to determine the optimum formulation for lyophilisation that could minimise oxidation of the haem iron and maximise recovery. Furthermore, samples were also deoxygenated prior to storage to decrease auto-oxidation, while resuspension in a solution containing ascorbic acid was shown to partially reduce LtEc that had oxidised during storage (e.g. from 42% Fe3+ to 11% Fe3+). Analysis of the oxygen equilibria and size of the resuspended LtEc showed that the lyophilisation, storage, and resuspension processes did not affect the oxygen transport properties or the structure of the LtEc, even after 6 months of storage at 40 °C. Altogether, these efforts have yielded a shelf-stable LtEc powder that can be stored for long periods at high temperatures, but future animal studies will be necessary to prove that the resuspended product is a safe and effective oxygen transporter in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean Dowd
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Catherine Sharo
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jacob Elmer
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kruczkowska W, Kciuk M, Pasieka Z, Kłosiński K, Płuciennik E, Elmer J, Waszczykowska K, Kołat D, Kałuzińska-Kołat Ż. The artificial oxygen carrier erythrocruorin-characteristics and potential significance in medicine. J Mol Med (Berl) 2023; 101:961-972. [PMID: 37460699 PMCID: PMC10400677 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02350-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The diminishing supply and increasing costs of donated blood have motivated research into novel hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) that can serve as red blood cell (RBC) substitutes. HBOCs are versatile agents that can be used in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock. However, many of the RBC substitutes that are based on mammalian hemoglobins have presented key limitations such as instability and toxicity. In contrast, erythrocruorins (Ecs) are other types of HBOCs that may not suffer these disadvantages. Ecs are giant metalloproteins found in annelids, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. Thus far, the Ecs of Lumbricus terrestris (LtEc) and Arenicola marina (AmEc) are the most thoroughly studied. Based on data from preclinical transfusion studies, it was found that these compounds not only efficiently transport oxygen and have anti-inflammatory properties, but also can be modified to further increase their effectiveness. This literature review focuses on the structure, properties, and application of Ecs, as well as their advantages over other HBOCs. Development of methods for both the stabilization and purification of erythrocruorin could confer to enhanced access to artificial blood resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Kruczkowska
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752, Lodz, Poland
| | - Mateusz Kciuk
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Genetics, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Pasieka
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136, Lodz, Poland
| | - Karol Kłosiński
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136, Lodz, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Płuciennik
- Department of Functional Genomics, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacob Elmer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
| | - Klaudia Waszczykowska
- Department of Functional Genomics, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752, Lodz, Poland
| | - Damian Kołat
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136, Lodz, Poland
| | - Żaneta Kałuzińska-Kołat
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Narutowicza 60, 90-136, Lodz, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qian C, Zheng Y, Xu Z, Zhang Z, Li H, Chen X. Preparation of Cross-Linked Bovine Tendon Acellular Fibers and Study of Their Biophysical and Chemical Properties. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2022. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2022.3476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
To explore the effect of glutaraldehyde (GA) and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) cross-linking on the biophysical and chemical properties of acellular scaffold to better provide suitable donor materials for tendon reconstruction. GA and EDC with different concentrations
and action time gradients were used to cross-link the acellular scaffold. By detecting the collagen content in the cross-linked scaffold and the cytotoxicity, the cross-linking scheme with minimal damage to the scaffold and minimal cytotoxicity was explored for subsequent studies. The biomechanical
properties (durability, elastic modulus, stressmax) of the scaffolds in GA, EDC, acellular scaffold, and tendon groups were compared, and the scaffold rat models were constructed to further evaluate their in vivo histocompatibility. Under different concentration gradients,
the collagen content of the scaffolds in the GA and EDC groups had no obvious difference. When 0.5% GA was cross-linked for 24 h, and the mass ratio of EDC (1:2) was cross-linked for 4 h, the inhibition rate of the scaffold extract on fibroblasts was the lowest. In the mechanical property
test, the Stressmax, durability, and elastic modulus of the cross-linked acellular scaffolds were significantly improved than those before cross-linking, and the elastic modulus of the EDC acellular scaffold was similar to that of the bovine tendon. In the compatibility test, compared
with the acellular scaffold group, fibroblast activity in the GA group decreased obviously, and the scaffold implanted in rat models led to a persistent chronic inflammatory reaction. However, cells in the EDC group could maintain good activity. Moreover, the scaffold had good compatibility
with rats and did not cause an obvious inflammatory reaction. EDC cross-linking scheme will not damage the acellular scaffold, and the cytotoxicity of the obtained scaffold is controllable. Additionally, EDC cross-linked acellular scaffold has mechanical properties similar to normal tendons
and excellent histocompatibility.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ni Y, Lv Z, Wang Z, Kang S, He D, Liu R. Immobilization and Evaluation of Penicillin G Acylase on Hydroxy and Aldehyde Functionalized Magnetic α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 Heterostructure Nanosheets. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:812403. [PMID: 35155412 PMCID: PMC8831838 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.812403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterostructure nanosheets were fabricated via hydrothermal calcination. The activity of penicillin G acylase (PGA), which was covalently immobilized onto silica-decorated heterostructure nanosheets, achieved the highest activity of 387.03 IU/g after 18 h of incubation with 0.1 ml of PGA. In contrast, the activity of free PGA reached the highest level when the temperature was 45°C with a pH of 8.0. However, the activity of free PGA changed more dramatically than immobilized PGA as the relative conditions changed. Moreover, the Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) and reusability of immobilized PGA were also explored. The results showed that free PGA Km and maximum rate (Vmax) were 0.0274 M and 1.167 μl/min, respectively. Km and Vmax values of immobilized PGA were 0.1082 M and 1.294 μl/min, respectively. After 12 cycles of repetitive use, immobilized PGA remained approximately 66% of its initial activity, indicating that the PGA immobilized onto the heterostructure nanosheets showed better stability and reusability than free PGA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ni
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhixiang Lv
- The People’s Hospital of Danyang, Affiliated Danyang Hospital of Nantong University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhou Wang
- College of Vanadium and Titanium, Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China
| | - Shouyu Kang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Dawei He
- Affiliated Kunshan Hospital, Jiangsu University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Dawei He, ; Ruijiang Liu,
| | - Ruijiang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Dawei He, ; Ruijiang Liu,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Faggiano S, Ronda L, Bruno S, Abbruzzetti S, Viappiani C, Bettati S, Mozzarelli A. From hemoglobin allostery to hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 84:101050. [PMID: 34776270 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobin (Hb) plays its vital role through structural and functional properties evolutionarily optimized to work within red blood cells, i.e., the tetrameric assembly, well-defined oxygen affinity, positive cooperativity, and heterotropic allosteric regulation by protons, chloride and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Outside red blood cells, the Hb tetramer dissociates into dimers, which exhibit high oxygen affinity and neither cooperativity nor allosteric regulation. They are prone to extravasate, thus scavenging endothelial NO and causing hypertension, and cause nephrotoxicity. In addition, they are more prone to autoxidation, generating radicals. The need to overcome the adverse effects associated with cell-free Hb has always been a major hurdle in the development of substitutes of allogeneic blood transfusions for all clinical situations where blood is unavailable or cannot be used due to, for example, religious objections. This class of therapeutics, indicated as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), is formed by genetically and/or chemically modified Hbs. Many efforts were devoted to the exploitation of the wealth of biochemical and biophysical information available on Hb structure, function, and dynamics to design safe HBOCs, overcoming the negative effects of free plasma Hb. Unfortunately, so far, no HBOC has been approved by FDA and EMA, except for compassionate use. However, the unmet clinical needs that triggered intensive investigations more than fifty years ago are still awaiting an answer. Recently, HBOCs "repositioning" has led to their successful application in organ perfusion fluids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Faggiano
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Ronda
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Bruno
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Abbruzzetti
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Cristiano Viappiani
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Savla C, Munoz C, Hickey R, Belicak M, Gilbert C, Cabrales P, Palmer AF. Purification of Lumbricus terrestris Mega-Hemoglobin for Diverse Oxygen Therapeutic Applications. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:4957-4968. [PMID: 33313397 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Oxygen therapeutics are being developed for a variety of applications in transfusion medicine. In order to reduce the side-effects (vasoconstriction, systemic hypertension, and oxidative tissue injury) associated with previous generations of oxygen therapeutics, new strategies are focused on increasing the molecular diameter of hemoglobin obtained from mammalian sources via polymerization and encapsulation. Another approach towards oxygen therapeutic design has centered on using naturally occurring large molecular diameter hemoglobins (i.e. erythrocruorins) derived from annelid sources. Therefore, the goal of this study was to purify erythrocruorin from the terrestrial worm Lumbricus terrestris for diverse oxygen therapeutic applications. Tangential flow filtration (TFF) was used as a scalable protein purification platform to obtain a >99% pure LtEc product, which was confirmed by size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography and SDS-PAGE analysis. In vitro characterization concluded that the ultra-pure LtEc product had oxygen equilibrium properties similar to human red blood cells, and a lower rate of auto-oxidation compared to human hemoglobin, both of which should enable efficient oxygen transport under physiological conditions. In vivo evaluation concluded that the ultra-pure product had positive effects on the microcirculation sustaining functional capillary density compared to a less pure product (~86% purity). In summary, we purified an LtEc product with favorable biophysical properties that performed well in an animal model using a reliable and scalable purification platform to eliminate undesirable proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chintan Savla
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Carlos Munoz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Richard Hickey
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Maria Belicak
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Christopher Gilbert
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Pedro Cabrales
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Andre F Palmer
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Timm B, Abdulmalik O, Chakrabarti A, Elmer J. Purification of Lumbricus terrestris erythrocruorin (LtEc) with anion exchange chromatography. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1150:122162. [PMID: 32505113 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The naturally extracellular hemoglobin (erythrocruorin) of the Canadian nightcrawler, Lumbricus terrestris (LtEc), is a unique oxygen transport protein that may be an effective substitute for donated human blood. Indeed, this ultra-high molecular weight (~3.6 MDa) hemoglobin has already been shown to avoid the side effects associated with previous hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and its high thermal stability (Tm = 56°C) and resistance to heme oxidation (kox = 0.04 hr-1 × 103 at 20°C) allow it to be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration. However, before it can be tested in human clinical trials, an effective and scalable purification process for LtEc must be developed. We have previously purified LtEc for animal studies with tangential flow filtration (TFF), which allows rapid and scalable purification of LtEc based on its relatively large size, but that type of size-based purification may not be able to specifically remove some impurities and high MW (>500 kDa) contaminants like endotoxin (MW = ~1-4 MDa). Anion exchange (AEX) and immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) are two purification methods that have been previously used to purify mammalian hemoglobins, but they have not yet been used to purify large invertebrate hemoglobins like LtEc. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine if AEX and IMAC resins could successfully purify LtEc from crude earthworm homogenate, while also preserving its macromolecular structure and function. Both processes were able to produce purified LtEc with low levels of endotoxin, but IMAC purification induced significantly higher levels of heme oxidation and subunit dissociation than AEX. In addition, the IMAC process required an additional desalting step to enable LtEc binding. In contrast, AEX produced highly pure LtEc that was not dissociated. LtEc purified by AEX also exhibits similar oxygen binding characteristics (P50 = 27.33 ± 1.82 mm Hg, n = 1.58 ± 0.17) to TFF-purified LtEc (P50 = 28.84 ± 0.40 mm Hg, n = 1.93 ± 0.02). Therefore, AEX appears to be the optimal method for LtEc purification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Timm
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Div. of Hematology, Abramson Building, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th St. and Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Atis Chakrabarti
- Tosoh Bioscience, LLC, 3604 Horizon Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
| | - Jacob Elmer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Spivack K, Tucker M, Zimmerman D, Nicholas M, Abdulmalik O, Comolli N, Elmer J. Increasing the stability of Lumbricus terrestris erythrocruorin via poly(acrylic acid) conjugation. ARTIFICIAL CELLS, NANOMEDICINE, AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 46:1137-1144. [PMID: 29916733 PMCID: PMC6476418 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2018.1480491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Since donated red blood cells must be constantly refrigerated, they are often unavailable in remote areas and battlefields. The goal of this study was to synthesize a highly stable blood substitute that does not require refrigeration. Specifically, the extracellular haemoglobin (a.k.a. erythrocruorin, Ec) of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris erythrocruororin (LtEc) was cross-linked with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and ethylene diamine (EDA). PAGE analysis of the LtEc nanoparticles reveals cross-linking between subunits, while dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy show that cross-linking significantly increases the size of the LtEc nanoparticles (164 ± 13.9 nm). Cross-linking also significantly increased the thermal stability of the LtEc nanoparticles by 10 °C (Tm = 72 ± 0.84 °C) relative to native LtEc (Tm = 62 ± 0.6 °C). In addition, while native LtEc rapidly dissociates at pH 9, the LtEc nanoparticles resist subunit dissociation up to pH 10. The oxygen affinity of the LtEc nanoparticles (P50 = 6.85 ± 0.13 mm Hg) is much higher than native LtEc (P50 = 26.67 ± 0.4 mm Hg), but the cooperativity (n = 2.43 ± 0.12) is not affected. Altogether, these results show that cross-linking LtEc with PAA and EDA provides a potential blood substitute with increased stability and oxygen affinity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Spivack
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| | - Matthew Tucker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| | - Devon Zimmerman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| | - Matthew Nicholas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, Abramson Building, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th St. & Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Noelle Comolli
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| | - Jacob Elmer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA, USA 19085
| |
Collapse
|