1
|
O'Callaghan JA, Kamat NP, Vargo KB, Chattaraj R, Lee D, Hammer DA. A microfluidic platform for the synthesis of polymer and polymer-protein-based protocells. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2024; 47:37. [PMID: 38829453 PMCID: PMC11147907 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-024-00428-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of polymersomes, protein-blended polymersomes, and polymeric microcapsules using droplet microfluidics. Polymersomes with uniform, single bilayers and controlled diameters are assembled from water-in-oil-in-water double-emulsion droplets. This technique relies on adjusting the interfacial energies of the droplet to completely separate the polymer-stabilized inner core from the oil shell. Protein-blended polymersomes are prepared by dissolving protein in the inner and outer phases of polymer-stabilized droplets. Cell-sized polymeric microcapsules are assembled by size reduction in the inner core through osmosis followed by evaporation of the middle phase. All methods are developed and validated using the same glass-capillary microfluidic apparatus. This integrative approach not only demonstrates the versatility of our setup, but also holds significant promise for standardizing and customizing the production of polymer-based artificial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Ann O'Callaghan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Department of Biongineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kevin B Vargo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rajarshi Chattaraj
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Daniel A Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Biongineering, University of Pennsylvania, 210 S 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liao Y, Wang Z, Pei Y, Yan S, Chen T, Qi B, Li Y. Unveiling the applications of membrane proteins from oil bodies: leading the way in artificial oil body technology and other biotechnological advancements. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2024:1-28. [PMID: 38594966 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2331566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Oil bodies (OBs) function as organelles that store lipids in plant seeds. An oil body (OB) is encased by a membrane composed of proteins (e.g., oleosins, caleosins, and steroleosins) and a phospholipid monolayer. The distinctive protein-phospholipid membrane architecture of OBs imparts exceptional stability even in extreme environments, thereby sparking increasing interest in their structure and properties. However, a comprehensive understanding of the structure-activity relationships determining the stability and properties of oil bodies requires a more profound exploration of the associated membrane proteins, an aspect that remains relatively unexplored. In this review, we aim to summarize and discuss the structural attributes, biological functions, and properties of OB membrane proteins. From a commercial perspective, an in-depth understanding of the structural and functional properties of OBs is important for the expansion of their applications by producing artificial oil bodies (AOB). Besides exploring their structural intricacies, we describe various methods that are used for purifying and isolating OB membrane proteins. These insights may provide a foundational framework for the practical utilization of OB membrane proteins in diverse applications within the realm of AOB technology, including biological and probiotic delivery, protein purification, enzyme immobilization, astringency detection, and antibody production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liao
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Zhenxiao Wang
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yukun Pei
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shizhang Yan
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Tianyao Chen
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Baokun Qi
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yang Li
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Intelligent Equipment Research Center for the Development of Special Medicinal and Food Resources, Harbin Institute of Technology Chongqing Research Institute, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Plankensteiner L, Hennebelle M, Vincken JP, Nikiforidis CV. Insights into the emulsification mechanism of the surfactant-like protein oleosin. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 657:352-362. [PMID: 38043237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.11.165] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Oleosins are proteins with a unique central hydrophobic hairpin designed to stabilize lipid droplets (oleosomes) in plant seeds. For efficient droplet stabilization, the hydrophobic hairpin with a strong affinity for the apolar droplet core is flanked by hydrophilic arms on each side. This gives oleosins a unique surfactant-like shape making them a very interesting protein. In this study, we tested if isolated oleosins retain their ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, and investigated the underlying stabilization mechanism. Due to their surfactant-like shape, oleosins when dispersed in aqueous buffers associated to micelle-like nanoparticles with a size of ∼33 nm. These micelles, in turn, clustered into larger aggregates of up to 20 µm. Micelle aggregation was more extensive when oleosins lacked charge. During emulsification, oleosin micelles and micelle aggregates dissociated and mostly individual oleosins adsorbed on the oil droplet interface. Oleosins prevented the coalescence of the oil droplets and if sufficiently charged, droplet flocculation as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Plankensteiner
- Laboratory of Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, the Netherlands; Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
| | - Marie Hennebelle
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Paul Vincken
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein vesicles with growth, fission, and molecule transportation. iScience 2023; 26:106086. [PMID: 36843838 PMCID: PMC9950948 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid vesicles, which mimic cell membranes in structure and components, have been used to study the origin of life and artificial cell construction. A different approach to developing cell-mimicking systems focuses on the formation of protein- or polypeptide-based vesicles. However, micro-sized protein vesicles that are similar in membrane dynamics to the cell and that reconstitute membrane proteins are difficult to form. In this study, we generated cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-amphiphilic protein (oleosin) vesicles that allow the reconstitution of membrane proteins and the growth and fission of vesicles. These vesicles are composed of a lipid membrane on the outer leaflet and an oleosin membrane on the inner leaflet. Further, we elucidated a mechanism for the growth and fission of cell-sized asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles by feeding phospholipid micelles. Our asymmetric phospholipid-oleosin vesicles with the advantages of the lipid leaflet and the protein leaflet will potentially promote understanding of biochemistry and synthetic biology.
Collapse
|
5
|
Chattaraj R, Kim CY, Lee D, Hammer DA. Recombinant Protein Micelles to Block Transduction by SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus. ACS NANO 2022; 16:17466-17477. [PMID: 36191145 PMCID: PMC9578646 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The continuing emergence of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus requires the development of modular molecular therapies. Here, we engineered a recombinant amphiphilic protein, oleosin, to spontaneously self-assemble into multivalent micellar nanostructures which can block the Spike S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses (PVs). Short recombinant proteins like oleosin can be formulated more easily than antibodies and can be functionalized with precision through genetic engineering. We cloned S1-binding mini-protein genes called LCBx, previously designed by David Baker's laboratory (UW Seattle), to the N-terminus of oleosin, expressing Oleo-LCBx proteins in E. coli. These proteins largely formed 10-100 nm micelles as verified by dynamic light scattering. Two proteins, Oleo-LCB1 and Oleo-LCB3, were seen to completely and irreversibly block transduction by both wild-type and delta variant PVs into 293T-hsACE2 cells at 10 μM. Presented in multivalent micelles, these proteins reduced transduction by PVs down to a functional protein concentration of 5 nM. Additionally, Oleo-LCB1 micelles outperformed corresponding synthetic LCB1 mini-proteins in reducing transduction by PVs. Tunable aqueous solubility of recombinant oleosin allowed incorporation of peptides/mini-proteins at high concentrations within micelles, thus enhancing drug loading. To validate the potential multifunctionality of the micelles, we showed that certain combinations of Oleo-LCB1 and Oleo-LCB3 performed much better than the individual proteins at the same concentration. These micelles, which we showed to be non-toxic to human cells, are thus a promising step toward the design of modular, multifunctional therapeutics that could bind to and inactivate multiple receptors and proteins necessary for the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Chattaraj
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Christina Y. Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel A. Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Juanes-Gusano D, Santos M, Reboto V, Alonso M, Rodríguez-Cabello JC. Self-assembling systems comprising intrinsically disordered protein polymers like elastin-like recombinamers. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3362. [PMID: 34545666 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite lacking cooperatively folded structures under native conditions, numerous intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) nevertheless have great functional importance. These IDPs are hybrids containing both ordered and intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDPRs), the structure of which is highly flexible in this unfolded state. The conformational flexibility of these disordered systems favors transitions between disordered and ordered states triggered by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, folding into different dynamic molecular assemblies to enable proper protein functions. Indeed, prokaryotic enzymes present less disorder than eukaryotic enzymes, thus showing that this disorder is related to functional and structural complexity. Protein-based polymers that mimic these IDPs include the so-called elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), which are inspired by the composition of natural elastin. Elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) are ELPs produced using recombinant techniques and which can therefore be tailored for a specific application. One of the most widely used and studied characteristic structures in this field is the pentapeptide (VPGXG)n . The structural disorder in ELRs probably arises due to the high content of proline and glycine in the ELR backbone, because both these amino acids help to keep the polypeptide structure of elastomers disordered and hydrated. Moreover, the recombinant nature of these systems means that different sequences can be designed, including bioactive domains, to obtain specific structures for each application. Some of these structures, along with their applications as IDPs that self-assemble into functional vesicles or micelles from diblock copolymer ELRs, will be studied in the following sections. The incorporation of additional order- and disorder-promoting peptide/protein domains, such as α-helical coils or β-strands, in the ELR sequence, and their influence on self-assembly, will also be reviewed. In addition, chemically cross-linked systems with controllable order-disorder balance, and their role in biomineralization, will be discussed. Finally, we will review different multivalent IDPs-based coatings and films for different biomedical applications, such as spatially controlled cell adhesion, osseointegration, or biomaterial-associated infection (BAI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Juanes-Gusano
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Santos
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Virginia Reboto
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Matilde Alonso
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Rodríguez-Cabello
- BIOFORGE (Group for Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology) CIBER-BBN, Edificio Lucía, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen Z, Pulsipher KW, Chattaraj R, Hammer DA, Sehgal CM, Lee D. Engineering the Echogenic Properties of Microfluidic Microbubbles Using Mixtures of Recombinant Protein and Amphiphilic Copolymers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:10079-10086. [PMID: 30768278 PMCID: PMC6698903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbubbles are used as ultrasound contrast agents in medical diagnosis and also have shown great promise in ultrasound-mediated therapy. However, short lifetime and broad size distribution of microbubbles limit their applications in therapy and imaging. Moreover, it is challenging to tailor the echogenic response of microbubbles to make them suitable for specific applications. To overcome these challenges, we use microfluidic flow-focusing to prepare monodisperse microbubbles with a mixture of a recombinant amphiphilic protein, oleosin, and a synthetic amphiphilic copolymer, Pluronic. We show that these microbubbles have superior uniformity and stability under ultrasonic stimulation compared to commercial agents. We also demonstrate that by using different Pluronics, the echogenic response of the microbubbles can be tailored. Our work shows the versatility of using the combination of microfluidics and protein/copolymer mixtures as a method of engineering microbubbles. This tunability could potentially be important and powerful in producing microbubble agents for theranostic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Katherine W. Pulsipher
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rajarshi Chattaraj
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel A. Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Chandra M. Sehgal
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chen Z, Chattaraj R, Pulsipher KW, Karmacharya MB, Hammer DA, Lee D, Sehgal CM. Photoacoustic and Ultrasound Dual-Mode Imaging via Functionalization of Recombinant Protein-Stabilized Microbubbles with Methylene Blue. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2019; 2:4020-4026. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Rajarshi Chattaraj
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | | | - Mrigendra B. Karmacharya
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | | | | | - Chandra M. Sehgal
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Schreiber A, Stühn LG, Huber MC, Geissinger SE, Rao A, Schiller SM. Self-Assembly Toolbox of Tailored Supramolecular Architectures Based on an Amphiphilic Protein Library. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1900163. [PMID: 31173449 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201900163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The molecular structuring of complex architectures and the enclosure of space are essential requirements for technical and living systems. Self-assembly of supramolecular structures with desired shape, size, and stability remains challenging since it requires precise regulation of physicochemical and conformational properties of the components. Here a general platform for controlled self-assembly of tailored amphiphilic elastin-like proteins into desired supramolecular protein assemblies ranging from spherical coacervates over molecularly defined twisted fibers to stable unilamellar vesicles is introduced. The described assembly protocols efficiently yield protein membrane-based compartments (PMBC) with adjustable size, stability, and net surface charge. PMBCs demonstrate membrane fusion and phase separation behavior and are able to encapsulate structurally and chemically diverse cargo molecules ranging from small molecules to naturally folded proteins. The ability to engineer tailored supramolecular architectures with defined fusion behavior, tunable properties, and encapsulated cargo paves the road for novel drug delivery systems, the design of artificial cells, and confined catalytic nanofactories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schreiber
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lara G Stühn
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias C Huber
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Süreyya E Geissinger
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ashit Rao
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Schiller
- Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Habsburgerstrasse 49, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79085, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 19, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- IMTEK Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Karefyllakis D, Jan van der Goot A, Nikiforidis CV. The behaviour of sunflower oleosomes at the interfaces. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:4639-4646. [PMID: 31144697 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm00352e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Oleosomes are particles equipped with a sophisticated membrane, comprising a continuous monolayer of phospholipids and hydrophobic proteins, which covers the triglyceride core and grants them extreme physical and chemical stability. The noteworthy qualities of oleosomes have attracted strong interest for their incorporation in emulsion formulations; however, little is known about their emulsifying properties and their behaviour on interfaces. For these reasons, oleosomes were isolated from sunflower seeds (96.2 wt% oil, 3.1 wt% protein) and used as an emulsifier for the stabilization of O/W and W/O interfaces. In both cases, oleosomes showed high interfacial and emulsifying activity. Individual oleosome particles had a broad size distribution from 0.4 to 10.0 μm and it was observed that the membrane of the larger oleosomes (>1-5 μm) was disrupted and its fractions participated in the newly formed interface. Oleosomes with a smaller diameter (<1 μm) seemed to have survived the applied mild emulsification step as a great number of them could be observed both in the bulk of the emulsions and on the interface of the emulsion droplets. This phenomenon was more pronounced for the W/O interface where oleosomes were absorbed intact in a manner similar to a Pickering mechanism. However, when the triglycerides were removed from the core of oleosomes in order to focus more on the effect of the membrane, the remaining material formed sub-micron spherical particles, which clearly acted as Pickering stabilisers. These findings showcase the intriguing behaviour of oleosomes upon emulsification, especially the crucial role of their membrane. The study demonstrates relevance for applications where immiscible liquid phases are present.
Collapse
|
11
|
Gao C, Lee V, Hammer DA. Enhanced Cell Killing by Paclitaxel-Loaded Recombinant Protein Micelles Bearing Integrin-Binding and Cell-Penetrating Peptides. Bioconjug Chem 2019:acs.bioconjchem.8b00748. [PMID: 30777745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Peptide ligands are effective and specific vectors that can target cell surface receptors, and have shown great potential for targeting drug delivery vehicles. Often, materials used as drug delivery matrices are chemically synthesized and difficult to functionalize, which compromises their development as smart drug carriers. Here, we assemble carriers from a recombinant protein as a novel approach to overcome these limitations. We have previously shown that oleosin, a natural surfactant protein, can be engineered to self-assemble into spherical micelles, and that functionalizing oleosin with RGDS can increase cellular uptake in integrin bearing cells. Here, we investigated whether we could further enhance cellular by incorporating either a RGDS synergy peptide PHSRN or a cell-penetrating Tat peptide derived from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The resulting modified oleosins self-assemble into spherical micelles in aqueous environments. Spherical micelles made from oleosin can effectively encapsulate the hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PX). After 15 hours, 350 nM PX loaded oleosin micelles equipped with both RGDS and Tat increased cell killing by twofold compared to free paclitaxel, and 1.2-fold compared to micelles made from RGD-oleosin alone. Micelles equipped with PHSRN alone does not facilitate cell killing compared to free paclitaxel, whereas micelles equipped with both PHSRN and RGDS increased cell killing by 1.1 fold compared to micelles with RGDS alone in 15 hours. Therefore, incorporating multiple motifs into oleosin is an approach for candidate for making a versatile drug delivery carrier.
Collapse
|
12
|
Reed EH, Hammer DA. Redox sensitive protein droplets from recombinant oleosin. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:6506-6513. [PMID: 30043819 PMCID: PMC6502463 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01047a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein engineering enables the creation of materials with designer functionality and tailored responsiveness. Here, we design a protein with two control motifs for its phase separation into micron sized liquid droplets - one driven by a hydrophobic domain and the other by oxidation of a disulfide bond. Our work is based on the plant surfactant protein, oleosin, which has a hydrophobic domain but no cysteines. Oleosin phase separates to form liquid droplets below a critical temperature akin to many naturally occurring membrane-less organelles. Sequence mutations are made to introduce a cysteine residue into oleosin. The addition of a cysteine causes phase separation at a lower concentration and increases the phase transition temperature. Adding a reducing agent to phase-separated, cysteine-containing oleosin rapidly dissolves the droplets. The transition temperature is tuned by varying the location of the cysteine or by blending the parent cysteine-less molecule with the cysteine-containing mutant. This provides a novel way to control protein droplet formation and dissolution. We envision this work having applications as a system for the release of a protein or drug with engineered sensitivity to reducing conditions and as a mimic of membrane-less organelles in synthetic protocells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen H Reed
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Daniel A Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Altomare L, Bonetti L, Campiglio CE, De Nardo L, Draghi L, Tana F, Farè S. Biopolymer-based strategies in the design of smart medical devices and artificial organs. Int J Artif Organs 2018; 41:337-359. [PMID: 29614899 PMCID: PMC6159845 DOI: 10.1177/0391398818765323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Advances in regenerative medicine and in modern biomedical therapies are fast evolving and set goals causing an upheaval in the field of materials science. This review discusses recent developments involving the use of biopolymers as smart materials, in terms of material properties and stimulus-responsive behavior, in the presence of environmental physico-chemical changes. An overview on the transformations that can be triggered in natural-based polymeric systems (sol-gel transition, polymer relaxation, cross-linking, and swelling) is presented, with specific focus on the benefits these materials can provide in biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Altomare
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Bonetti
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Chiara E Campiglio
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Luigi De Nardo
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Lorenza Draghi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Tana
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| | - Silvia Farè
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
- National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM), Firenze, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hollingshead S, Lin CY, Liu JC. Designing Smart Materials with Recombinant Proteins. Macromol Biosci 2017; 17:10.1002/mabi.201600554. [PMID: 28337848 PMCID: PMC6020822 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201600554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant protein design allows modular protein domains with different functionalities and responsive behaviors to be easily combined. Inclusion of these protein domains can enable recombinant proteins to have complex responses to their environment (e.g., temperature-triggered aggregation followed by enzyme-mediated cleavage for drug delivery or pH-triggered conformational change and self-assembly leading to structural stabilization by adjacent complementary residues). These "smart" behaviors can be tuned by amino acid identity and sequence, chemical modifications, and addition of other components. A wide variety of domains and peptides have smart behavior. This review focuses on protein designs for self-assembly or conformational changes due to stimuli such as shifts in temperature or pH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Hollingshead
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, USA
| | - Charng-Yu Lin
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, USA
| | - Julie C. Liu
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gao C, Vargo KB, Hammer DA. Protease-Triggered, Integrin-Targeted Cellular Uptake of Recombinant Protein Micelles. Macromol Biosci 2016; 16:1398-406. [DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201600032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Pennsylvania; 311A Towne Building; 220 S. 33rd Street Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| | - Kevin B. Vargo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Pennsylvania; 311A Towne Building; 220 S. 33rd Street Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| | - Daniel A. Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Pennsylvania; 311A Towne Building; 220 S. 33rd Street Philadelphia PA 19104 USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jang Y, Jang WS, Gao C, Shim TS, Crocker JC, Hammer DA, Lee D. Tuning the Mechanical Properties of Recombinant Protein-Stabilized Gas Bubbles Using Triblock Copolymers. ACS Macro Lett 2016; 5:371-376. [PMID: 35614706 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gas bubbles enhance contrast in ultrasound sonography and can also carry and deliver therapeutic agents. The mechanical properties of the bubble shell play a critical role in determining the physical response of gas bubbles under ultrasound insonation. Currently, few methods allow for tailoring of the mechanical properties of the stabilizing layers of gas bubbles. Here, we demonstrate that blending of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) amphiphilic triblock copolymer with a recombinant protein, oleosin, enables the tuning of the mechanical properties of the bubble stabilizing layer. The areal expansion modulus of gas bubbles, as determined by micropipette aspiration, depends on the structure as well as the concentration of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers. We believe our method of using a mixture of PEO-PPO-PEO and oleosin can potentially lead to the formation of microbubbles with stabilizing shells that can be functionalized and tailored for specific applications in ultrasound imaging and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeongseon Jang
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Woo-Sik Jang
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Chen Gao
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tae Soup Shim
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - John C. Crocker
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel A Hammer
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and ∥Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Lévesque-Lemay M, Chabot D, Hubbard K, Chan JK, Miller S, Robert LS. Tapetal oleosins play an essential role in tapetosome formation and protein relocation to the pollen coat. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 209:691-704. [PMID: 26305561 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/19/2015] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The Arabidopsis pollen grain is covered by a lipidic pollen coat representing select constituents released upon the programmed cell death of the anther secretory tapetum. These constituents originate primarily from two specialized tapetal organelles, elaioplasts and tapetosomes. Tapetosomes are distinctive Brassicaceae organelles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum that store triacylglycerols, flavonoids, alkanes, and proteins. The tapetosome triacylglycerols are found within lipid droplets surrounded by the highly variable tapetal oleosins that eventually generate the most abundant proteins of the pollen coat. Many questions remain regarding the sub-cellular targeting of tapetal oleosins as well as their role in tapetosome formation. Translational fusions of different tapetal oleosins or their derived domains to marker proteins were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana to investigate their localization, processing and function. Arabidopsis tapetal oleosins were shown to be proteolytically cleaved following tapetum degeneration and different protein domains were targeted to the pollen coat despite vast differences in composition and size. Importantly, specific fusions were discovered to affect distinct aspects of tapetosome formation. This report not only highlighted the critical role of individual tapetal oleosin domains in Arabidopsis tapetosome formation, but revealed translational fusions to be a valuable tool in deciphering this evidently complex developmental process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Lévesque-Lemay
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Denise Chabot
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Keith Hubbard
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - John K Chan
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Shea Miller
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Laurian S Robert
- Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Development of a novel strategy to isolate lipophilic allergens (oleosins) from peanuts. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123419. [PMID: 25860789 PMCID: PMC4393030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Peanut allergy is one of the most severe class I food allergies with increasing prevalence. Especially lipophilic allergens, such as oleosins, were found to be associated with severe symptoms, but are usually underrepresented in diagnostic extracts. Therefore, this study focused on isolation, molecular characterization and assessment of the allergenicity of peanut oleosins. Methods and Results A comprehensive method adapted for the isolation of peanut oil bodies of high purity was developed comprising a stepwise removal of seed storage proteins from oil bodies. Further separation of the oil body constituents, including the allergens Ara h 10, Ara h 11, the presumed allergen oleosin 3 and additional oleosin variants was achieved by a single run on a preparative electrophoresis cell. Protein identification realized by N-terminal sequencing, peptide mass fingerprinting and homology search revealed the presence of oleosins, steroleosins and a caleosin. Immunoblot analysis with sera of peanut-allergic individuals illustrated the IgE-binding capacity of peanut-derived oleosins. Conclusion Our method is a novel way to isolate all known immunologically distinct peanut oleosins simultaneously. Moreover, we were able to provide evidence for the allergenicity of oleosins and thus identified peanut oleosins as probable candidates for component-resolved allergy diagnosis.
Collapse
|
19
|
Vargo KB, Al Zaki A, Warden-Rothman R, Tsourkas A, Hammer DA. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle micelles stabilized by recombinant oleosin for targeted magnetic resonance imaging. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2015; 11:1409-13. [PMID: 25418741 PMCID: PMC4746475 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201402017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Revised: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant surfactants present a new platform for stabilizing and targeting nanoparticle imaging agents. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-loaded micelles for MRI contrast are stabilized by an engineered variant of the naturally occurring protein oleosin and targeted using a Her2/neu affibody-oleosin fusion. The recombinant oleosin platform allows simple targeting and the ability to easily swap the ligand for numerous targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B. Vargo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103
| | - Ajlan Al Zaki
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103
| | | | - Andrew Tsourkas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103
| | - Daniel A. Hammer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19103
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Angilè F, Vargo KB, Sehgal CM, Hammer DA, Lee D. Recombinant protein-stabilized monodisperse microbubbles with tunable size using a valve-based microfluidic device. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:12610-8. [PMID: 25265041 PMCID: PMC4211726 DOI: 10.1021/la502610c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Microbubbles are used as contrast enhancing agents in ultrasound sonography and more recently have shown great potential as theranostic agents that enable both diagnostics and therapy. Conventional production methods lead to highly polydisperse microbubbles, which compromise the effectiveness of ultrasound imaging and therapy. Stabilizing microbubbles with surfactant molecules that can impart functionality and properties that are desirable for specific applications would enhance the utility of microbubbles. Here we generate monodisperse microbubbles with a large potential for functionalization by combining a microfluidic method and recombinant protein technology. Our microfluidic device uses an air-actuated membrane valve that enables production of monodisperse microbubbles with narrow size distribution. The size of microbubbles can be precisely tuned by dynamically changing the dimension of the channel using the valve. The microbubbles are stabilized by an amphiphilic protein, oleosin, which provides versatility in controlling the functionalization of microbubbles through recombinant biotechnology. We show that it is critical to control the composition of the stabilizing agents to enable formation of highly stable and monodisperse microbubbles that are echogenic under ultrasound insonation. Our protein-shelled microbubbles based on the combination of microfluidic generation and recombinant protein technology provide a promising platform for ultrasound-related applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco
E. Angilè
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Kevin B. Vargo
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Chandra M. Sehgal
- Department
of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania
Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniel A. Hammer
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|