A mechanistic investigation of cell-penetrating Tat peptides with supported lipid membranes

Antitumor Peptide-Based Vaccine in the Limelight

The success of the immune checkpoint blockade has provided a proof of concept that immune cells are capable of attacking tumors in the clinic. However, clinical benefit is only observed in less than 20% of the patients due to the non-specific activation of immune cells by the immune checkpoint blockade. Developing tumor-specific immune responses is a challenging task that can be achieved by targeting tumor antigens to generate tumor-specific T-cell responses. The recent advancements in peptide-based immunotherapy have encouraged clinicians and patients who are struggling with cancer that is otherwise non-treatable with current therapeutics. By selecting appropriate epitopes from tumor antigens with suitable adjuvants, peptides can elicit robust antitumor responses in both mice and humans. Although recent experimental data and clinical trials suggest the potency of tumor reduction by peptide-based vaccines, earlier clinical trials based on the inadequate hypothesis have misled that peptide vaccines are not efficient in eliminating tumor cells. In this review, we highlighted the recent evidence that supports the rationale of peptide-based antitumor vaccines. We also discussed the strategies to select the optimal epitope for vaccines and the mechanism of how adjuvants increase the efficacy of this promising approach to treat cancer.

Metal-Free Antibacterial Additives Based on Graphene Materials and Salicylic Acid: From the Bench to Fabric Applications

The custom functionalization of a graphene surface allows access to engineered nanomaterials with improved colloidal stability and tailored specific properties, which are available to be employed in a wide range of applications ranging from materials to life science. The high surface area and their intrinsic physical and biological properties make reduced graphene oxide and graphene oxide unique materials for the custom functionalization with bioactive molecules by exploiting different surface chemistries. In this work, preparation (on the gram scale) of reduced graphene oxide and graphene oxide derivatives functionalized with the well-known antibacterial agent salicylic acid is reported. The salicylic acid functionalities offered a stable colloidal dispersion and, in addition, homogeneous absorption on a sample of textile manufacture (i.e., cotton fabrics), as shown by a Raman spectroscopy study, thus providing nanoengineered materials with significant antibacterial activity toward different strains of microorganisms. Surprisingly, graphene surface functionalization also ensured resistance to detergent washing treatments as verified on a model system using the quartz crystal microbalance technique. Therefore, our findings paved the way for the development of antibacterial additives for cotton fabrics in the absence of metal components, thus limiting undesirable side effects.

On-Chip Multicolor Photoacoustic Imaging Flow Cytometry

On-chip imaging flow cytometry has been widely used in cancer biology, immunology, microbiology, and drug discovery. Pure optical imaging combined with flow cytometry to derive chemical, structural, and morphological features of cells provides systematic insights into biological processes. However, due to the high concentration and strong optical attenuation of red blood cells, preprocessing is necessary for optical flow cytometry while dealing with whole blood. In this study, we develop an on-chip photoacoustic imaging flow cytometry (PAIFC), which combines multicolor high-speed photoacoustic microscopy and microfluidics for cell imaging. The device employs a micro-optical scanner to achieve a miniaturized outer size of 30 × 17 × 24 mm³ and ultrafast cross-sectional imaging at a frame rate of 1758 Hz and provides lateral and axial resolutions of 2.2 and 33 μm, respectively. Using a multicolor strategy, PAIFC is able to differentiate cells labeled by external contrast agents, detect melanoma cells with an endogenous contrast in whole blood, and image melanoma cells in blood samples from tumor-bearing mice. The results suggest that PAIFC has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for future cell-on-chip applications.

Interactions of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Their Bismuth Analogues (BiNSAIDs) with Biological Membrane Mimics at Physiological pH

Previous studies have demonstrated the potential for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in particular aspirin, to be used as chemopreventives for colorectal cancer; however, a range of unwanted gastrointestinal side effects limit their effectiveness. Due to the role of bismuth in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, it is hypothesized that bismuth-coordinated NSAIDs (BiNSAIDs) could be used to combat the gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs while still maintaining their chemopreventive potential. To further understand the biological activity of these compounds, the present study examined four NSAIDs, namely, tolfenamic acid (tolfH), aspirin (aspH), indomethacin (indoH), and mefenamic acid (mefH) and their analogous homoleptic BiNSAIDs ([Bi(L)₃]_n), to determine how these compounds interact with biological membrane mimics composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) or a mixture of POPC and cholesterol. Electrical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that each of the NSAIDs and BiNSAIDs influenced membrane conductance, suggesting that temporary pore formation may play a key role in the previously observed cytotoxicity of tolfH and Bi(tolf)₃. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring showed that all the compounds were able to interact with membrane mimics composed of solely POPC or POPC/cholesterol. Finally, neutron reflectometry studies showed changes in membrane thickness and composition. The location of the compounds within the bilayer could not be determined with certainty; however, a complex interplay of interactions governs the location of small molecules, such as NSAIDs, within lipid membranes. The charged nature of the parent NSAIDs means that interactions with the polar headgroup region are most likely with larger hydrophobic sections, potentially leading to deeper penetration.

Quartz Crystal Microbalances as Tools for Probing Protein-Membrane Interactions

Extensive studies on the spontaneous collapse of phospholipid vesicles into supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) have led to procedures which allow SLB formation on a wealth of substrates and lipid compositions. SLBs provide a widely accepted and versatile model system which mimics the natural cell membrane separating the extracellular and intracellular fluids of the living cell. The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) has been central in both the understanding of vesicle collapse into SLBs on various substrates but also in probing the kinetics and mechanisms of biomolecular interactions with SLBs in real time. We describe a robust procedure to form SLBs of zwitterionic and charged lipids on SiO₂ sensor crystals which subsequently can be exploited to probe the interaction between proteins and peptides with the SLB.

Effects of guanidino modified aminoglycosides on mammalian membranes studied using a quartz crystal microbalance

The increase in bacterial and viral resistance to current therapeutics has led to intensive research for new antibacterial and antiviral agents. Among these, aminoglycosides and their guanidino derivatives are potent candidates targeting specific RNA sequences. It is necessary that these substances can pass across mammalian membranes in order to reach their intracellular targets. This study investigated the effects of the aminoglycosides kanamycin A and neomycin B and their guanidino derivatives on mammalian mimetic membranes using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Lipid bilayers as membrane models were deposited onto gold coated quartz crystals and aminoglycosides added afterwards. Notably, the guanidino derivatives exhibited an initial stiffening of the membrane layer indicating a quick insertion of the planar guanidino groups into the membrane. The guanidino derivatives also reached their maximum binding to the membrane at lower concentrations than the native compounds. Therefore, these modified aminoglycosides are promising agents for the development of new antimicrobial treatments.

Analytical approaches to study domain formation in biomimetic membranes

Novel characterization methods open new horizons in the study of membrane mixtures.

Cell-penetrating peptides as tools to enhance non-injectable delivery of biopharmaceuticals

Non-injectable delivery of peptide and protein drugs is hampered by their labile nature, hydrophilicity, and large molecular size; thus limiting their permeation across mucosae, which represent major biochemical and physical barriers to drugs administered via e.g. the oral, nasal, and pulmonary routes. However, in recent years cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) have emerged as promising tools to enhance mucosal delivery of co-administered or conjugated peptide and protein cargo and more advanced CPP-cargo formulations are emerging. CPPs act as transepithelial delivery vectors, but the mechanism(s) by which CPPs mediate cargo translocation across an epithelium is so far poorly understood; both due to the fact that multiple factors influence the resulting uptake and trafficking mechanisms as well as to the complicated nature of sensitive studies of this. In addition to a proper mechanistic understanding, documentation of CPP-mediated delivery in higher animal species than rodent as well as extensive toxicological studies are necessary for CPP-containing non-injectable DDSs to reach the clinic.

Formation and Characterization of Supported Lipid Bilayers Composed of Hydrogenated and Deuterated Escherichia coli Lipids

Supported lipid bilayers are widely used for sensing and deciphering biomolecular interactions with model cell membranes. In this paper, we present a method to form supported lipid bilayers from total lipid extracts of Escherichia coli by vesicle fusion. We show the validity of this method for different types of extracts including those from deuterated biomass using a combination of complementary surface sensitive techniques; quartz crystal microbalance, neutron reflection and atomic force microscopy. We find that the head group composition of the deuterated and the hydrogenated lipid extracts is similar (approximately 75% phosphatidylethanolamine, 13% phosphatidylglycerol and 12% cardiolipin) and that both samples can be used to reconstitute high-coverage supported lipid bilayers with a total thickness of 41 ± 3 Å, common for fluid membranes. The formation of supported lipid bilayers composed of natural extracts of Escherichia coli allow for following biomolecular interactions, thus advancing the field towards bacterial-specific membrane biomimics.

Analysis of Perforin Assembly by Quartz Crystal Microbalance Reveals a Role for Cholesterol and Calcium-independent Membrane Binding

Perforin is an essential component in the cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated cell death pathway. The traditional view holds that perforin monomers assemble into pores in the target cell membrane via a calcium-dependent process and facilitate translocation of cytotoxic proteases into the cytoplasm to induce apoptosis. Although many studies have examined the structure and role of perforin, the mechanics of pore assembly and granzyme delivery remain unclear. Here we have employed quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to investigate binding and assembly of perforin on lipid membranes, and show that perforin monomers bind to the membrane in a cooperative manner. We also found that cholesterol influences perforin binding and activity on intact cells and model membranes. Finally, contrary to current thinking, perforin efficiently binds membranes in the absence of calcium. When calcium is added to perforin already on the membrane, the QCM-D response changes significantly, indicating that perforin becomes membranolytic only after calcium binding.

Vesicular disruption of lysosomal targeting organometallic polyarginine bioconjugates

Compounds which are able to destabilize the lysosomal membrane have been proposed as interesting candidates for targeted anticancer drugs due to the pronounced lysosomal changes in cancer cells. For this purpose, metallocene derivatives of a cell penetrating polyarginine peptide M–(Arg)9(Phe)2Lys–NH2 (where M = ferrocene carboxylate or ruthenocene carboxylate) were designed and their biological activities were investigated in detail. The ferrocenoyl- and ruthenocenoyl polyarginine bioconjugates were synthesized via Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) protocols on a microwave-assisted synthesizer. After HPLC purification >98% purity was observed for all conjugates. Their interaction with supported biomimetic membranes was investigated on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and revealed a very strong binding of the metallocene peptides and their metal-free congeners to an artificial eukaryotic membrane model (DMPC–cholesterol). To demonstrate their antiproliferative utility as cytotoxic compounds for a targeted anticancer drug, cell viability (by the crystal violet assay), apoptosis (flow cytometry, Ann V/PI staining), induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS, by flow cytometry with dihydroethidium staining), and changes in cancer cell metabolism, e.g. respiration and glycolysis, were studied. Our results reveal only a weak toxicity for the metal-free polyarginine peptide, which could be significantly enhanced (to ca. 50 μM against HeLa cells in the best case) by coupling ferrocene or ruthenocene carboxylates to the N-terminus of the peptide. The investigation of the cellular uptake and intracellular localization by fluorescence microscopy revealed an enhanced vesicular disruption by the metallocene bioconjugate compared to the metal-free derivative which could be triggered by light and chemicals. Further studies of apoptosis, respiration, glycolysis and ROS formation reveal the superior characteristics of the metallocene compounds. While most cells remain viable even at 300 μM of the metal free bioconjugate 1, most cells are dead or in late stages of apoptosis at 200 μM of the ruthenocene derivative 3, and at 100 μM of the most active ferrocene derivative 2, however, all show very little sign of necrosis. Also, the metal free compound 1 does not induce ROS formation but both metallocene–polyarginine bioconjugates are clearly associated with enhanced intracellular ROS levels, with levels for the redox-active ferrocene derivative being two times higher than for the structurally very similar but redox-silent ruthenocene derivative. We propose that such metallocene–polyarginine peptides induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization and thereby could be developed towards targeted anticancer drugs.

Effect of AIE substituents on the fluorescence of tetraphenylethene-containing BODIPY derivatives

A series of BODIPY derivatives with tetraphenylethene (TPE) moieties were designed and synthesized. The effect of positions and numbers of substitution groups on the fluorescence of the BODIPYs was investigated. Theoretical calculation and single crystal structures proved that the TPE substitution groups on the 8-position of BODIPY contributed little to the conjugation, but benefited the aggregated state emission. On the other hand, the substitutions on the 3- or 5-position of BODIPY through vinyl bridges increased the conjugation length, and generated big coplanar π-conjugated structures with poor aggregated state emission. The compound with bright aggregated state emission has been further fabricated into biocompatible fluorescent nanoparticles and used as effective fluorescent contrast agents for intracellular imaging.

Viscoelastic changes measured in partially suspended single bilayer membranes

For studies involving biomimetic phospholipid membrane systems, such as membrane-protein interactions, it is crucial that the supported membrane is biomimetic in its physical properties as well as in its composition. Two often overlooked aspects of biomimicry are the need for unrestrained lipid mobility, reflected in the viscoelastic properties of the membrane, and sufficient space between the membrane and the support for the insertion of transmembrane proteins. Here we show for a series of DMPC-based membranes that a partially suspended single bilayer membrane can be formed on functionalized gold surface without tethering. These membranes exhibit sufficient freedom of motion to represent the viscoelastic properties of a free lamellar bilayer membrane as demonstrated by determining the phase transition temperatures of these single bilayer membranes from the viscosity change upon chain melting using the dissipation signal of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D). Atomic force microscopy imaging confirmed confluent, smooth membrane coverage of the QCM-D sensor that completely obscured the roughness of the sputtered gold surface. High-force AFM imaging was able to push membrane patches into the valleys of the gold morphology, confirming the inherently suspended nature of the MPA supported membrane. We show that the correlation between frequency and dissipation changes in the QCM-D sensograms is a sensitive indicator of the morphology of the membrane.

Coronavirus nsp10/nsp16 Methyltransferase Can Be Targeted by nsp10-Derived Peptide In Vitro and In Vivo To Reduce Replication and Pathogenesis

The 5' cap structures of eukaryotic mRNAs are important for RNA stability and protein translation. Many viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of eukaryotes have evolved 2'-O-methyltransferases (2'-O-MTase) to autonomously modify their mRNAs and carry a cap-1 structure (m7GpppNm) at the 5' end, thereby facilitating viral replication and escaping innate immune recognition in host cells. Previous studies showed that the 2'-O-MTase activity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nonstructural protein 16 (nsp16) needs to be activated by nsp10, whereas nsp16 of feline coronavirus (FCoV) alone possesses 2'-O-MTase activity (E. Decroly et al., J Virol 82:8071-8084, 2008, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00407-08; M. Bouvet et al., PLoS Pathog 6:e1000863, 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1000863; E. Decroly et al., PLoS Pathog 7:e1002059, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002059; Y. Chen et al., PLoS Pathog 7:e1002294, 2011, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1002294) . In this study, we demonstrate that stimulation of nsp16 2'-O-MTase activity by nsp10 is a universal and conserved mechanism in coronaviruses, including FCoV, and that nsp10 is functionally interchangeable in the stimulation of nsp16 of different coronaviruses. Based on our current and previous studies, we designed a peptide (TP29) from the sequence of the interaction interface of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp10 and demonstrated that the peptide inhibits the 2'-O-MTase activity of different coronaviruses in biochemical assays and the viral replication in MHV infection and SARS-CoV replicon models. Interestingly, the peptide TP29 exerted robust inhibitory effects in vivo in MHV-infected mice by impairing MHV virulence and pathogenesis through suppressing virus replication and enhancing type I interferon production at an early stage of infection. Therefore, as a proof of principle, the current results indicate that coronavirus 2'-O-MTase activity can be targeted in vitro and in vivo.

IMPORTANCE

Coronaviruses are important pathogens of animals and human with high zoonotic potential. SARS-CoV encodes the 2'-O-MTase that is composed of the catalytic subunit nsp16 and the stimulatory subunit nsp10 and plays an important role in virus genome replication and evasion from innate immunity. Our current results demonstrate that stimulation of nsp16 2'-O-MTase activity by nsp10 is a common mechanism for coronaviruses, and nsp10 is functionally interchangeable in the stimulation of nsp16 among different coronaviruses, which underlies the rationale for developing inhibitory peptides. We demonstrate that a peptide derived from the nsp16-interacting domain of MHV nsp10 could inhibit 2'-O-MTase activity of different coronaviruses in vitro and viral replication of MHV and SARS-CoV replicon in cell culture, and it could strongly inhibit virus replication and pathogenesis in MHV-infected mice. This work makes it possible to develop broad-spectrum peptide inhibitors by targeting the nsp16/nsp10 2'-O-MTase of coronaviruses.

Fundamental molecular mechanism for the cellular uptake of guanidinium-rich molecules

Guanidinium-rich molecules, such as cell-penetrating peptides, efficiently enter living cells in a non-endocytic energy-independent manner and transport a wide range of cargos, including drugs and biomarkers. The mechanism by which these highly cationic molecules efficiently cross the hydrophobic barrier imposed by the plasma membrane remains a fundamental open question. Here, a combination of computational results and in vitro and live-cell experimental evidence reveals an efficient energy-independent translocation mechanism for arginine-rich molecules. This mechanism unveils the essential role of guanidinium groups and two universal cell components: fatty acids and the cell membrane pH gradient. Deprotonated fatty acids in contact with the cell exterior interact with guanidinium groups, leading to a transient membrane channel that facilitates the transport of arginine-rich peptides toward the cell interior. On the cytosolic side, the fatty acids become protonated, releasing the peptides and resealing the channel. This fundamental mechanism appears to be universal across cells from different species and kingdoms.

Real-time examination of aminoglycoside activity towards bacterial mimetic membranes using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D)

The rapid increase in multi-drug resistant bacteria has resulted in previously discontinued treatments being revisited. Aminoglycosides are effective "old" antibacterial agents that fall within this category. Despite extensive usage and understanding of their intracellular targets, there is limited mechanistic knowledge regarding how aminoglycosides penetrate bacterial membranes. Thus, the activity of two well-known aminoglycosides, kanamycin A and neomycin B, towards a bacterial mimetic membrane (DMPC:DMPG (4:1)) was examined using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The macroscopic effect of increasing the aminoglycoside concentration showed that kanamycin A exerts a threshold response, switching from binding to the membrane to disruption of the surface. Neomycin B, however, disrupted the membrane at all concentrations examined. At concentrations above the threshold value observed for kanamycin A, both aminoglycosides revealed similar mechanistic details. That is, they both inserted into the bacterial mimetic lipid bilayer, prior to disruption via loss of materials, presumably aminoglycoside-membrane composites. Depth profile analysis of this membrane interaction was achieved using the overtones of the quartz crystal sensor. The measured data is consistent with a two-stage process in which insertion of the aminoglycoside precedes the 'detergent-like' removal of membranes from the sensor. The results of this study contribute to the insight required for aminoglycosides to be reconsidered as active antimicrobial agents/co-agents by providing details of activity at the bacterial membrane. Kanamycin and neomycin still offer potential as antimicrobial therapeutics for the future and the QCM-D method illustrates great promise for screening new antibacterial or antiviral drug candidates.

Self-assembling amphiphilic peptides

The self-assembly of several classes of amphiphilic peptides is reviewed, and selected applications are discussed. We discuss recent work on the self-assembly of lipopeptides, surfactant-like peptides and amyloid peptides derived from the amyloid-β peptide. The influence of environmental variables such as pH and temperature on aggregate nanostructure is discussed. Enzyme-induced remodelling due to peptide cleavage and nanostructure control through photocleavage or photo-cross-linking are also considered. Lastly, selected applications of amphiphilic peptides in biomedicine and materials science are outlined.

Peptide-membrane interactions of arginine-tryptophan peptides probed using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring

Membrane-active peptides include peptides that can cross cellular membranes and deliver macromolecular cargo as well as peptides that inhibit bacterial growth. Some of these peptides can act as both transporters and antibacterial agents. It is desirable to combine the knowledge from these two different fields of membrane-active peptides into design of new peptides with tailored actions, as transporters of cargo or as antibacterial substances, targeting specific membranes. We have previously shown that the position of the amino acid tryptophan in the peptide sequence of three arginine-tryptophan peptides affects their uptake and intracellular localization in live mammalian cells, as well as their ability to inhibit bacterial growth. Here, we use quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to assess the induced changes caused by binding of the three peptides to supported model membranes composed of POPC, POPC/POPG, POPC/POPG/cholesterol or POPC/lactosyl PE. Our results indicate that the tryptophan position in the peptide sequence affects the way these peptides interact with the different model membranes and that the presence of cholesterol in particular seems to affect the membrane interaction of the peptide with an even distribution of tryptophans in the peptide sequence. These results give mechanistic insight into the function of these peptides and may aid in the design of membrane-active peptides with specified cellular targets and actions.

Bright single-chain conjugated polymer dots embedded nanoparticles for long-term cell tracing and imaging

Single-chain conjugated polymer (CP) dots embedded nanoparticles (NPs) bearing cell penetration peptide (TAT) as surface ligands are synthesized for long term cancer cell tracing applications. The CPNPs are fabricated by matrix-encapsulation method and the embedded CPs can be modulated into spherical dots with different size upon alteration of feed concentrations. Single-chain CP dots are formed upon decreasing feed concentration to 0.2 mg/mL, where CPNPs exhibit highest fluorescence quantum yield of 32%. Maleimide is introduced as the new NP surface functional group, which favors easy conjugation with cell penetration peptide via click chemistry to preserve its biofunctions. The obtained CPNPs show high brightness and good biocompatibility, which allow cell tracing for over 9 generations, superior to commercial cell tracker Qtracker 585.

Interaction between a cationic surfactant-like peptide and lipid vesicles and its relationship to antimicrobial activity

We investigate the properties of an antimicrobial surfactant-like peptide (Ala)6(Arg), A6R, containing a cationic headgroup. The interaction of this peptide with zwitterionic (DPPC) lipid vesicles is investigated using a range of microscopic, X-ray scattering, spectroscopic, and calorimetric methods. The β-sheet structure adopted by A6R is disrupted in the presence of DPPC. A strong effect on the small-angle X-ray scattering profile is observed: the Bragg peaks from the DPPC bilayers in the vesicle walls are eliminated in the presence of A6R and only bilayer form factor peaks are observed. All of these observations point to the interaction of A6R with DPPC bilayers. These studies provide insight into interactions between a model cationic peptide and vesicles, relevant to understanding the action of antimicrobial peptides on lipid membranes. Notably, peptide A6R exhibits antimicrobial activity without membrane lysis.

Revealing rotational modes of functionalized gold nanorods on live cell membranes

A full understanding of cell mechanics requires knowledge of both translational and rotational dynamics. The single particle orientation and rotational tracking (SPORT) technique is combined here with correlation analysis to identify the fundamental rotational modes: in-plane rotation and out-of-plane tilting, as well as other more complex rotational patterns, from the vast image data captured at a temporal resolution of 5 ms for single gold nanorod probes in live cell imaging experiments. The unique capabilities of visualizing and understanding rotational motions of functional nanoparticles on live cell membranes allow correlation of the rotational and translational dynamics in unprecedented detail and provide new insights into complex membrane processes. Particles with functionalized surfaces, which interact with the membrane in fundamentally different ways, can exhibit distinct rotational modes and are, for the first time, directly visualized, and these show the early events for membrane approach and attachment.

Photostable fluorescent organic dots with aggregation-induced emission (AIE dots) for noninvasive long-term cell tracing

Long-term noninvasive cell tracing by fluorescent probes is of great importance to life science and biomedical engineering. For example, understanding genesis, development, invasion and metastasis of cancerous cells and monitoring tissue regeneration after stem cell transplantation require continual tracing of the biological processes by cytocompatible fluorescent probes over a long period of time. In this work, we successfully developed organic far-red/near-infrared dots with aggregation-induced emission (AIE dots) and demonstrated their utilities as long-term cell trackers. The high emission efficiency, large absorptivity, excellent biocompatibility, and strong photobleaching resistance of the AIE dots functionalized by cell penetrating peptides derived from transactivator of transcription proteins ensured outstanding long-term noninvasive in vitro and in vivo cell tracing. The organic AIE dots outperform their counterparts of inorganic quantum dots, opening a new avenue in the development of fluorescent probes for following biological processes such as carcinogenesis.

Quartz crystal microbalances as tools for probing protein-membrane interactions

Extensive studies on the spontaneous collapse of phospholipid vesicles into supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) have led to procedures which allow SLB formation on a wealth of substrates and lipid compositions. SLBs provide a widely accepted and versatile model system which mimics the natural cell membrane separating the extracellular and intracellular fluids of the living cell. The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) has been central both in the understanding of vesicle collapse into SLBs on various substrates and in probing the kinetics and mechanisms of biomolecular interactions with SLBs in real time. We describe a robust procedure to form SLBs of zwitterionic and charged lipids on SiO(2) sensor crystals which subsequently can be exploited to probe the interaction between proteins and peptides with the SLB.