1
|
Kleiner S, Wulf V, Bisker G. Single-walled carbon nanotubes as near-infrared fluorescent probes for bio-inspired supramolecular self-assembled hydrogels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 670:439-448. [PMID: 38772260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.098] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogels derived from fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-conjugated amino acids and peptides demonstrate remarkable potential in biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and tissue engineering. These hydrogels can be injectable, offering a minimally invasive approach to hydrogel implantation. Given their potential for prolonged application, there is a need for non-destructive evaluation of their properties over extended periods. Thus, we introduce a hydrogel characterization platform employing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probes. Our approach involves generating supramolecular self-assembling hydrogels from aromatic Fmoc-amino acids. Integrating SWCNTs into the hydrogels maintains their structural and mechanical properties, establishing SWCNTs as optical probes for hydrogels. We demonstrate that the SWCNT NIR-fluorescence changes during the gelation process correlate to rheological changes within the hydrogels. Additionally, single particle tracking of SWCNTs incorporated in the hydrogels provides insights into differences in hydrogel morphologies. Furthermore, the disassembly process of the hydrogels can be monitored through the SWCNT fluorescence modulation. The unique attribute of SWCNTs as non-photobleaching fluorescent sensors, emitting at the biologically transparent window, offers a non-destructive method for studying hydrogel dynamics over extended periods. This platform could be applied to a wide range of self-assembling hydrogels to advance our understanding and applications of supramolecular assembly technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shirel Kleiner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Verena Wulf
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gili Bisker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Light-Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Levin N, Hendler-Neumark A, Kamber D, Bisker G. Enhanced cellular internalization of near-infrared fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes facilitated by a transfection reagent. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 664:650-666. [PMID: 38490040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.03.039] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) hold immense potential for diverse biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and optical properties, including near-infrared fluorescence. Specifically, SWCNTs have been utilized to target cells as a vehicle for drug delivery and gene therapy, and as sensors for various intracellular biomarkers. While the main internalization route of SWCNTs into cells is endocytosis, methods for enhancing the cellular uptake of SWCNTs are of great importance. In this research, we demonstrate the use of a transfecting reagent for promoting cell internalization of functionalized SWCNTs. We explore different types of SWCNT functionalization, namely single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-lipids, and two different cell types, embryonic kidney cells and adenocarcinoma cells. We show that internalizing PEGylated functionalized SWCNTs is enhanced in the presence of the transfecting reagent, where the effect is more pronounced for negatively charged PEG-lipid. However, ssDNA-SWCNTs tend to form aggregates in the presence of the transfecting reagent, rendering it unsuitable for promoting internalization. For all cases, cellular uptake is visualized by near-infrared fluorescence microscopy, showing that the SWCNTs are typically localized within the lysosome. Generally, cellular internalization was higher in the adenocarcinoma cells, thereby paving new avenues for drug delivery and sensing in malignant cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naamah Levin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Adi Hendler-Neumark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Dotan Kamber
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gili Bisker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; Center for Light-Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Basu S, Hendler-Neumark A, Bisker G. Rationally Designed Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Real-Time Monitoring of Cholinesterase Activity and Inhibition in Plasma. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309481. [PMID: 38358018 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309481] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Enzymes play a pivotal role in regulating numerous bodily functions. Thus, there is a growing need for developing sensors enabling real-time monitoring of enzymatic activity and inhibition. The activity and inhibition of cholinesterase (CHE) enzymes in blood plasma are fluorometrically monitored using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as probes, strategically functionalized with myristoylcholine (MC)- the substrate of CHE. A significant decrease in the fluorescence intensity of MC-suspended SWCNTs upon interaction with CHE is observed, attributed to the hydrolysis of the MC corona phase of the SWCNTs by CHE. Complementary measurements for quantifying choline, the product of MC hydrolysis, reveal a correlation between the fluorescence intensity decrease and the amount of released choline, rendering the SWCNTs optical sensors with real-time feedback in the NIR biologically transparent spectral range. Moreover, when synthetic and naturally abundant inhibitors inhibit the CHE enzymes present in blood plasma, no significant modulations of the MC-SWCNT fluorescence are observed, allowing effective detection of CHE inhibition. The rationally designed SWCNT sensors platform for monitoring of enzymatic activity and inhibition in clinically relevant samples is envisioned to not only advance the field of clinical diagnostics but also deepen further understanding of enzyme-related processes in complex biological fluids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srestha Basu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Adi Hendler-Neumark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Gili Bisker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Center for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Center for Light-Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Basu S, Hendler-Neumark A, Bisker G. Monitoring Enzyme Activity Using Near-Infrared Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. ACS Sens 2024; 9:2237-2253. [PMID: 38669585 PMCID: PMC11129355 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Enzymes serve as pivotal biological catalysts that accelerate essential chemical reactions, thereby influencing a variety of physiological processes. Consequently, the monitoring of enzyme activity and inhibition not only yields crucial insights into health and disease conditions but also forms the basis of research in drug discovery, toxicology, and the understanding of disease mechanisms. In this context, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have emerged as effective tools for tracking enzyme activity and inhibition through diverse strategies. This perspective explores the physicochemical attributes of SWCNTs that render them well-suited for such monitoring. Additionally, we delve into the various strategies developed so far for successfully monitoring enzyme activity and inhibition, emphasizing the distinctive features of each principle. Furthermore, we contrast the benefits of SWCNT-based NIR probes with conventional gold standards in monitoring enzyme activity. Lastly, we highlight the current challenges faced in this field and suggest potential solutions to propel it forward. This perspective aims to contribute to the ongoing progress in biodiagnostics and seeks to engage the wider community in developing and applying enzymatic assays using SWCNTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srestha Basu
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Adi Hendler-Neumark
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gili Bisker
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Center
for Physics and Chemistry of Living Systems, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Center
for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel
Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Center
for Light-Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Metternich JT, Hill B, Wartmann JAC, Ma C, Kruskop RM, Neutsch K, Herbertz S, Kruss S. Signal Amplification and Near-Infrared Translation of Enzymatic Reactions by Nanosensors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316965. [PMID: 38100133 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Enzymatic reactions are used to detect analytes in a range of biochemical methods. To measure the presence of an analyte, the enzyme is conjugated to a recognition unit and converts a substrate into a (colored) product that is detectable by visible (VIS) light. Thus, the lowest enzymatic turnover that can be detected sets a limit on sensitivity. Here, we report that substrates and products of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and β-galactosidase change the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence of (bio)polymer modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). They translate a VIS signal into a beneficial NIR signal. Moreover, the affinity of the nanosensors leads to a higher effective local concentration of the reactants. This causes a non-linear sensor-based signal amplification and translation (SENSAT). We find signal enhancement up to ≈120x for the HRP substrate p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which means that reactions below the limit of detection in the VIS can be followed in the NIR (≈1000 nm). The approach is also applicable to other substrates such as 3,3'-5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). An adsorption-based theoretical model fits the observed signals and corroborates the sensor-based enhancement mechanism. This approach can be used to amplify signals, translate them into the NIR and increase sensitivity of biochemical assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justus T Metternich
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Biomedical Nanosensors, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, Finkenstrasse 61, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Björn Hill
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Janus A C Wartmann
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Chen Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rebecca M Kruskop
- Biomedical Nanosensors, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, Finkenstrasse 61, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Krisztian Neutsch
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Svenja Herbertz
- Biomedical Nanosensors, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, Finkenstrasse 61, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kruss
- Department of Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Biomedical Nanosensors, Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems, Finkenstrasse 61, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
- Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), Carl-Benz-Strasse 199, 47057, Duisburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ahsan A, Wagner D, Varaljay VA, Roman V, Kelley-Loughnane N, Reuel NF. Screening putative polyester polyurethane degrading enzymes with semi-automated cell-free expression and nitrophenyl probes. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2024; 9:ysae005. [PMID: 38414826 PMCID: PMC10898825 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-free expression (CFE) has shown recent utility in prototyping enzymes for discovery efforts. In this work, CFE is demonstrated as an effective tool to screen putative polyester polyurethane degrading enzyme sequences sourced from metagenomic analysis of biofilms prospected on aircraft and vehicles. An automated fluid handler with a controlled temperature block is used to assemble the numerous 30 µL CFE reactions to provide more consistent results over human assembly. In sum, 13 putative hydrolase enzymes from the biofilm organisms as well as a previously verified, polyester-degrading cutinase were expressed using in-house E. coli extract and minimal linear templates. The enzymes were then tested for esterase activity directly in extract using nitrophenyl conjugated substrates, showing highest sensitivity to shorter substrates (4-nitrophenyl hexanoate and 4-nNitrophenyl valerate). This screen identified 10 enzymes with statistically significant activities against these substrates; however, all were lower in measured relative activity, on a CFE volume basis, to the established cutinase control. This approach portends the use of CFE and reporter probes to rapidly prototype, screen and design for synthetic polymer degrading enzymes from environmental consortia. Graphical Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afrin Ahsan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Dominique Wagner
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
- UES Inc., Dayton, OH, USA
| | - Vanessa A Varaljay
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Victor Roman
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Nancy Kelley-Loughnane
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Nigel F Reuel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|