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da Silva AR, de Oliveira WF, da Silva PM, de Siqueira Patriota LL, de Vasconcelos Alves RR, de Oliveira APS, Dos Santos Correia MT, Paiva PMG, Vainstein MH, Filho PEC, Fontes A, Napoleão TH. Quantum dots conjugated to lectins from Schinus terebinthifolia leaves (SteLL) and Punica granatum sarcotesta (PgTeL) as potential fluorescent nanotools for investigating Cryptococcus neoformans. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 192:232-240. [PMID: 34634324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This study reports the development of conjugates based on quantum dots (QD)s and lectins from Schinus terebinthifolia leaves (SteLL) and Punica granatum sarcotesta (PgTeL). Cryptococcus neoformans cells were chosen to evaluate the efficiency of the conjugates. Lectins were conjugated to QDs via adsorption, and the optical parameters (emission and absorption) were monitored. Lectin stability in the conjugates towards denaturing agents was investigated via fluorometry. The conjugation was evaluated using fluorescence microplate (FMA) and hemagglutination (HA) assays. The labeling of the C. neoformans cell surface was quantified using flow cytometry and observed via fluorescence microscopy. The QDs-SteLL and QDs-PgTeL conjugates, obtained at pH 7.0 and 8.0, respectively, showed the maintenance of colloidal and optical properties. FMA confirmed the conjugation, and the HA assay indicated that the lectin carbohydrate-binding ability was preserved after conjugation. SteLL and PgTeL showed stability towards high urea concentrations and heating. Conjugates labeled over 90% of C. neoformans cells as observed via flow cytometry and confirmed through fluorescence microscopy. C. neoformans labeling by conjugates was inhibited by glycoproteins, suggesting specific interactions through the lectin carbohydrate-binding site. Thus, an effective protocol for the conjugation of SteLL or PgTeL with QDs was proposed, yielding new nanoprobes useful for glycobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdênego Rodrigues da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Weslley Felix de Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paulo Euzébio Cabral Filho
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Adriana Fontes
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Thiago Henrique Napoleão
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
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The Potential of Liquid Biopsy of the Brain Using Blood Extracellular Vesicles: The First Step Toward Effective Neuroprotection Against Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Diagn Ther 2020; 24:703-713. [PMID: 32975732 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-020-00493-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Early diagnosis and biomarker-based ante-mortem tests are essential in efforts against the development of neurodegenerative diseases and can be considered primary neuroprotective measures. Blood is the ideal biofluid for a routine ante-mortem screening test. However, biomarker discovery in the blood is particularly difficult because of interference from factors both intrinsic and extrinsic to blood with the detection of hallmark neurodegenerative biomarkers, such as the pathological prion protein, amyloid-β, and others. Blood extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, are cell-derived vesicles released into the blood from all parts of the body (including the brain and spinal cord). They are an enriched source of neural-derived EVs containing neurodegenerative biomarkers that mirror (in the blood) the condition present in the brain. The feasibility of using, and the reliability of, neural-derived blood EVs (NDBEVs) as a method of diagnosing Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative diseases has been assessed in strong proof-of-concept studies. Results from these studies strongly suggest that NDBEVs might represent the right strategy for specific, reliable, and early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Based on these results, NDBEVs might enable the creation of an ante-mortem blood test (liquid biopsy of the brain) for neurodegenerative diseases. This would enormously accelerate the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the powerful potential of liquid biopsy of the brain using NDBEVs for early diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and the challenges and limitations related to the identification of clinically applicable EV (exosomal) biomarkers using blood are discussed.
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