Hybrid heterogeneous phantoms for biomedical applications: a demonstration to dosimetry validation

Phantoms simultaneously mimicking anatomical and optical properties of real tissues can play a pivotal role for improving dosimetry algorithms. The aim of the paper is to design and develop a hybrid phantom model that builds up on the strengths of solid and liquid phantoms for mimicking various anatomical structures for prostate cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) dosimetry validation. The model comprises of a photosensitizer-embedded gelatin lesion within a liquid Intralipid prostate shape that is surrounded by a solid silicone outer shell. The hybrid phantom was well characterized for optical properties. The final assembled phantom was also evaluated for fluorescence tomographic reconstruction in conjunction with SpectraCure's IDOSE software. The developed model can lead to advancements in dosimetric evaluations. This would improve PDT outlook as a clinical treatment modality and boost phantom based standardization of biophotonic devices globally.

Two-layer reconstruction of Raman spectra in diffusive media based on an analytical model in the time domain

We derive and validate an analytical model that describes the migration of Raman scattered photons in two-layer diffusive media, based on the diffusion equation in the time domain. The model is derived under a heuristic approximation that background optical properties are identical on the excitation and Raman emission wavelengths. Methods for the reconstruction of two-layer Raman spectra have been developed, tested in computer simulations and validated on tissue-mimicking phantom measurements data. Effects of different parameters were studied in simulations, showing that the thickness of the top layer and number of detected photon counts have the most significant impact on the reconstruction. The concept of quantitative, mathematically rigorous reconstruction using the proposed model was finally proven on experimental measurements, by successfully separating the spectra of silicone and calcium carbonate (calcite) layers, showing the potential for further development and eventual application in clinical diagnostics.

Perspectives on interstitial photodynamic therapy for malignant tumors

SIGNIFICANCE

Despite remarkable advances in the core modalities used in combating cancer, malignant diseases remain the second largest cause of death globally. Interstitial photodynamic therapy (IPDT) has emerged as an alternative approach for the treatment of solid tumors.

AIM

The aim of our study is to outline the advancements in IPDT in recent years and provide our vision for the inclusion of IPDT in standard-of-care (SoC) treatment guidelines of specific malignant diseases.

APPROACH

First, the SoC treatment for solid tumors is described, and the attractive properties of IPDT are presented. Second, the application of IPDT for selected types of tumors is discussed. Finally, future opportunities are considered.

RESULTS

Strong research efforts in academic, clinical, and industrial settings have led to significant improvements in the current implementation of IPDT, and these studies have demonstrated the unique advantages of this modality for the treatment of solid tumors. It is envisioned that further randomized prospective clinical trials and treatment optimization will enable a wide acceptance of IPDT in the clinical community and inclusion in SoC guidelines for well-defined clinical indications.

CONCLUSIONS

The minimally invasive nature of this treatment modality combined with the relatively mild side effects makes IPDT a compelling alternative option for treatment in a number of clinical applications. The adaptability of this technique provides many opportunities to both optimize and personalize the treatment.

Computer simulation analysis of source-detector position for percutaneously measured O2 -gas signal in a three-dimensional preterm infant lung

Further improvements in the clinical care of our most vulnerable patients-preterm infants-are needed. Novel diagnostic and surveillance tools facilitate such advances. The GASMAS technique has shown potential to become a tool to, noninvasively, monitor gas in the lungs of preterm infants, by placing a laser source and a detector on the chest wall skin. It is believed that this technology will become a valuable clinical diagnostic tool for monitoring the lung function of these patients. Today, the technology is, for this application, in an early stage and further investigations are needed. In the present study, a three-dimensional computer model of the thorax of an infant is constructed, from a set of CT images. Light transport simulations are performed to provide information about the position dependence of the laser- and detector probe on the thorax of the infant. The result of the simulations, based on the study method and the specified model used in this work, indicates that measurement geometries in front and on the side of the lung are favorable in order to obtain a good gas absorption signal.

Development of a 3-dimensional tissue lung phantom of a preterm infant for optical measurements of oxygen-Laser-detector position considerations

There is a need to further improve the clinical care of our most vulnerable patients-preterm infants. Novel diagnostic and treatment tools facilitate such advances. Here, we evaluate a potential percutaneous optical monitoring tool to assess the oxygen and water vapor content in the lungs of preterm babies. The aim is to prepare for further clinical studies by gaining a detailed understanding of how the measured light intensity and gas absorption signal behave for different possible geometries of light delivery and receiver. Such an experimental evaluation is conducted for the first time utilizing a specially developed 3-dimensional-printed optical phantom based on a geometry model obtained from computer tomography images of the thorax (chest) of a 1700-g premature infant. The measurements yield reliable signals for source-detector distances up to about 50 mm, with stronger gas absorption signals at long separations and positions related to the lower part of the lung, consistent with a larger relative volume of this. The limitations of this study include the omission of scattering tissue within the lungs and that similar optical properties are used for the wavelengths employed for the 2 gases, yielding no indication on the optimal wavelength pair to use.

Online dosimetry for temoporfin-mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy using the canine prostate as model

Online light dosimetry with real-time feedback was applied for temoporfin-mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy (PDT) of dog prostate. The aim was to investigate the performance of online dosimetry by studying the correlation between light dose plans and the tissue response, i.e., extent of induced tissue necrosis and damage to surrounding organs at risk. Light-dose planning software provided dose plans, including light source positions and light doses, based on ultrasound images. A laser instrument provided therapeutic light and dosimetric measurements. The procedure was designed to closely emulate the procedure for whole-prostate PDT in humans with prostate cancer. Nine healthy dogs were subjected to the procedure according to a light-dose escalation plan. About 0.15 mg/kg temoporfin was administered 72 h before the procedure. The results of the procedure were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, and gross pathology and histopathology of excised tissue. Light dose planning and online dosimetry clearly resulted in more focused effect and less damage to surrounding tissue than interstitial PDT without dosimetry. A light energy dose-response relationship was established where the threshold dose to induce prostate gland necrosis was estimated from 20 to 30  J/cm2.

System for interstitial photodynamic therapy with online dosimetry: first clinical experiences of prostate cancer

The first results from a clinical study for Temoporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) of low-grade (T1c) primary prostate cancer using online dosimetry are presented. Dosimetric feedback in real time was applied, for the first time to our knowledge, in interstitial photodynamic therapy. The dosimetry software IDOSE provided dose plans, including optical fiber positions and light doses based on 3-D tissue models generated from ultrasound images. Tissue optical property measurements were obtained using the same fibers used for light delivery. Measurements were taken before, during, and after the treatment session. On the basis of these real-time measured optical properties, the light-dose plan was recalculated. The aim of the treatment was to ablate the entire prostate while minimizing exposure to surrounding organs. The results indicate that online dosimetry based on real-time tissue optical property measurements enabled the light dose to be adapted and optimized. However, histopathological analysis of tissue biopsies taken six months post-PDT treatment showed there were still residual viable cancer cells present in the prostate tissue sections. The authors propose that the incomplete treatment of the prostate tissue could be due to a too low light threshold dose, which was set to 5 J∕cm2.

In vivo photosensitizer tomography inside the human prostate

Interstitial photodynamic therapy (IPDT) provides a promising means to treat large cancerous tumors and solid organs inside the human body. The treatment outcome is dependent on the distributions of light, photosensitizer, and tissue oxygenation. We present a scheme for reconstructing the spatial distribution of a fluorescent photosensitizer. The reconstruction is based on measurements performed in the human prostate, acquired during an ongoing IPDT clinical trial, as well as in optical phantoms. We show that in an experimental setup we can quantitatively reconstruct a fluorescent inclusion in a fluorescent background. We also show reconstructions from a patient showing a heterogeneous distribution of the photosensitizer mTHPC in the human prostate.

Fluorescence intensity and lifetime imaging of free and micellar-encapsulated doxorubicin in living cells

Frequency domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) has been used in combination with laser scanning confocal microscopy to study the cellular uptake behavior of the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) and micellar-encapsulated DOX (PLyAd-DOX). The endocytosis uptake process of PLyAd-DOX was monitored over 72 hours using confocal microscopy, with a maximum fluorescence recorded at incubation periods around 24 hours. The micellar structure was not found to release the encapsulated DOX during the time course of imaging. FLIM revealed single lifetime distributions of PLyAd-DOX during accumulation in the cytoplasm. The free DOX in contrast was observed both in the cytoplasm and the nuclear domain of the cell, showing bimodal lifetime distributions. There was a marked dependence of the measured free-DOX lifetime on concentration within the cell, in contrast to reference experiments in aqueous solution, where no such dependence was found. The results suggest the formation of macromolecular structures inside the living cells.

A white light confocal microscope for spectrally resolved multidimensional imaging

Spectrofluorometric imaging microscopy is demonstrated in a confocal microscope using a supercontinuum laser as an excitation source and a custom-built prism spectrometer for detection. This microscope system provides confocal imaging with spectrally resolved fluorescence excitation and detection from 450 to 700 nm. The supercontinuum laser provides a broad spectrum light source and is coupled with an acousto-optic tunable filter to provide continuously tunable fluorescence excitation with a 1-nm bandwidth. Eight different excitation wavelengths can be simultaneously selected. The prism spectrometer provides spectrally resolved detection with sensitivity comparable to a standard confocal system. This new microscope system enables optimal access to a multitude of fluorophores and provides fluorescence excitation and emission spectra for each location in a 3D confocal image. The speed of the spectral scans is suitable for spectrofluorometric imaging of live cells. Effects of chromatic aberration are modest and do not significantly limit the spatial resolution of the confocal measurements.

Calibration of a wide-field frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime microscopy system using light emitting diodes as light sources

High brightness light emitting diodes are an inexpensive and versatile light source for wide-field frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. In this paper a full calibration of an LED based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy system is presented for the first time. A radio-frequency generator was used for simultaneous modulation of light emitting diode (LED) intensity and the gain of an intensified charge coupled device (CCD) camera. A homodyne detection scheme was employed to measure the demodulation and phase shift of the emitted fluorescence, from which phase and modulation lifetimes were determined at each image pixel. The system was characterized both in terms of its sensitivity to measure short lifetimes (500 ps to 4 ns), and its capability to distinguish image features with small lifetime differences. Calibration measurements were performed in quenched solutions containing Rhodamine 6G dye and the results compared to several independent measurements performed with other measurement methodologies, including time correlated single photon counting, time gated detection, and acousto optical modulator (AOM) based modulation of excitation sources. Results are presented from measurements and simulations. The effects of limited signal-to-noise ratios, baseline drifts and calibration errors are discussed in detail. The implications of limited modulation bandwidth of high brightness, large area LED devices ( approximately 40 MHz for devices used here) are presented. The results show that phase lifetime measurements are robust down to sub ns levels, whereas modulation lifetimes are prone to errors even at large signal-to-noise ratios. Strategies for optimizing measurement fidelity are discussed. Application of the fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy system is illustrated with examples from studies of molecular mixing in microfluidic devices and targeted drug delivery research.

Feasibility of white-light time-resolved optical mammography

We demonstrate the feasibility of white-light time-resolved optical mammography. The instrumentation is based on supercontinuum light generated in photonic crystal fiber and 32-channel parallel time-correlated single-photon-counting detection. Total measurement time is of the order of 10 min for typical clinical applications. Preliminary measurements performed on volunteers show the ability of the system to determine tissue constituent concentrations and structure over the entire breast area. Furthermore, measurements on a tissue-like sample demonstrate detection and characterization of inclusions.

Application of frequency-domain Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy as a quantitative analytical tool for microfluidic devices

We describe the application of wide-field frequency domain Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) to imaging in microfluidic devices. FLIM is performed using low cost, intensity modulated Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for illumination. The use of lifetime imaging for quantitative analysis within such devices is demonstrated by mapping the molecular diffusion of iodide ions across a microchannel.

Time-resolved spectrally constrained method for the quantification of chromophore concentrations and scattering parameters in diffusing media

We have devised and experimentally validated, on tissue-simulating phantoms and in vivo, a time-resolved spectral fitting analysis for direct assessment of chromophore concentrations and scattering parameters. Experimental data have been acquired with a time-resolved broadband system based on supercontinuum light generated in a photonic crystal fiber and a 32 channel Time Correlated Single Photon Counting system. The novel method is more robust than conventional techniques, especially at low signal-to-noise ratio.

Dynamic time-resolved diffuse spectroscopy based on supercontinuum light pulses

We present a detailed characterization of a system for fast time-resolved spectroscopy of turbid media based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber. The light source provides subpicosecond pulses in the 550-1000-nm spectral range, at 85 MHz, at an average power of up to 50 mW. Wavelength-resolved detection is accomplished by means of a spectrometer coupled to a 16-channel, multianode photomultiplier tube, giving a resolution of 4.5-35 nm/channel, depending on the grating. Time-dispersion curves are acquired with time-correlated single-photon counting, and absorption and reduced scattering coefficients are determined by fitting the data to the diffusion equation. We characterized the system by measuring the time-resolved diffuse reflectance of epoxy phantoms and by assessing the performance in terms of accuracy, linearity, noise sensitivity, stability, and reproducibility. The results were similar to those from previous systems, whereas the full-spectrum (610-810 nm) acquisition time was as short as 1 s owing to the parallel acquisition. We also present the first in vivo real-time dynamic spectral measurements showing tissue oxygenation changes in the arm of a human subject.

Characterization of normal breast tissue heterogeneity using time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy

In recent years, extensive efforts have been made in developing near-infrared optical techniques to be used in detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. Variations in optical properties of normal breast tissue set limits to the performance of such techniques and must therefore be thoroughly examined. In this paper, we present intra- and intersubject as well as contralateral variations of optical and physiological properties in breast tissue as measured by using four-wavelength time-resolved spectroscopy (at 660, 786, 916 and 974 nm). In total, 36 volunteers were examined at five regions at each breast. Optical properties (absorption, mu(a), and reduced scattering, mu'(s)) are derived by employing diffusion theory. The use of four wavelengths enables determination of main tissue chromophores (haemoglobin, water and lipids) as well as haemoglobin oxygenation. Variations in all evaluated properties seen over the entire breast are approximately twice those for small-scale heterogeneity (millimetre scale). Intrasubject variations in optical properties are almost in all cases below 20% for mu'(s), and 40% for mu(a). Overall variations in water, lipid and haemoglobin concentrations are all in the order of 20%. Oxygenation is the least variable of the quantities evaluated, overall intrasubject variations being 6% on average. Extracted physiological properties confirm differences between pre- and post-menopausal breast tissue. Results do not indicate systematic differences between left and right breasts.

Performance assessment of photon migration instruments: the MEDPHOT protocol

We propose a comprehensive protocol for the performance assessment of photon migration instruments. The protocol has been developed within the European Thematic Network MEDPHOT (optical methods for medical diagnosis and monitoring of diseases) and is based on five criteria: accuracy, linearity, noise, stability, and reproducibility. This protocol was applied to a total of 8 instruments with a set of 32 phantoms, covering a wide range of optical properties.

Fluorescence spectra provide information on the depth of fluorescent lesions in tissue

The fluorescence spectrum measured from a fluorophore in tissue is affected by the absorption and scattering properties of the tissue, as well as by the measurement geometry. We analyze this effect with Monte Carlo simulations and by measurements on phantoms. The spectral changes can be used to estimate the depth of a fluorescent lesion embedded in the tissue by measurement of the fluorescence signal in different wavelength bands. By taking the ratio between the signals at two wavelengths, we show that it is possible to determine the depth of the lesion. Simulations were performed and validated by measurements on a phantom in the wavelength range 815-930 nm. The depth of a fluorescing layer could be determined with 0.6-mm accuracy down to at least a depth of 10 mm. Monte Carlo simulations were also performed for different tissue types of various composition. The results indicate that depth estimation of a lesion should be possible with 2-3-mm accuracy, with no assumptions made about the optical properties, for a wide range of tissues.

Numerical simulations of light scattering by red blood cells

Scattering of electromagnetic waves from a red blood cell is simulated using the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD), the Rytov approximation and the discrete dipole approximation (DDA). Both FDTD and DDA are full wave methods that give accurate results in a wide range of wavelengths. The Rytov approximation is a much simpler method that is limited to scattering angles within 30 degrees from the forward direction. The investigation comprehends different wavelengths and different orientations of the cell. It shows that the shape, volume, and orientation of the cell have a large influence on the forward scattering.

Spectroscopic time-resolved diffuse reflectance and transmittance measurements of the female breast at different interfiber distances

The first, to our knowledge, in-vivo broadband spectroscopic characterization of breast tissue using different interfiber distances as well as transmittance measurements is presented. Absorption and scattering properties are measured on six healthy subjects, using time-resolved diffuse spectroscopy and an inverse model based on the diffusion equation. Wavelength-tunable picosecond-pulse lasers and time-correlated single-photon counting detection are employed, enabling fully spectroscopic measurements in the range 610 to 1040 nm. Characterization of the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of breast tissue is made with the aim of investigating individual variations, as well as variations due to different measurement geometries. Diffuse reflectance measurements at different interfiber distances (2, 3, and 4 cm) are performed, as well as measurements in transmittance mode, meaning that different sampling volumes are involved. The results show a large variation in the absorption and scattering properties depending on the subject, correlating mainly with the water versus lipid content of the breast. Intrasubject variations, due to different interfiber distances or transmittance modes, correlate with the known structures of the breast, but these variations are small compared to the subject-to-subject variation. The intrasubject variations are larger for the scattering data than the absorption data; this is consistent with different spatial localization of the measurements of these parameters, which is explained by the photon migration theory.

Time-resolved spectrophotometer for turbid media based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber

We describe an instrument for the time-resolved spectroscopy of turbid media that is based on supercontinuum generation in a photonic crystal fiber. The light injected into the sample consists of subpicosecond pulses that cover 550-1000 nm at 85 MHz at an average power of as much as 40 mW. A spectrometer coupled to a multianode photomultiplier tube is used to detect the light simultaneously in 16 wavelength channels, with a resolution of 5-20 nm/channel, depending on the grating. Time-correlated single-photon counting is used to produce time-dispersion curves, which one fits to the diffusion equation to determine absorption and reduced scattering coefficients. We tested the instrument by measuring the time-resolved diffuse reflectance of epoxy phantoms and by performing in vivo measurements on volunteers. The results were similar to those obtained with previous discrete wavelength systems, whereas the full spectrum (610-810 nm) acquisition time was as short as 1 s owing to the parallel acquisition.

Light scattering by multiple red blood cells

The interaction of light with multiple red blood cells was systematically investigated by the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD). The simulations showed that the lateral multiple scattering between red blood cells is very weak and that the polarization has an almost insignificant influence on the distribution of the scattered light. The numerical results of the FDTD method were compared with the results from the Rytov approximation and the discrete dipole approximation (DDA). The agreement with the DDA was excellent.

Determination of optical scattering properties of highly-scattering media in optical coherence tomography images

We developed a new algorithm that fits optical coherence tomography (OCT) signals as a function of depth to a general theoretical OCT model which takes into account multiple scattering effects. With use of this algorithm, it was possible to extract both the scattering coefficient and anisotropy factor from a particular region of interest in an OCT image. The extraction algorithm was evaluated against measurements from an integrating sphere on a set of tissue phantoms and yielded valid results. Finally, a preliminary ex vivo OCT investigation on human aortic specimen indicated that the algorithm may contribute importantly to differentiation between normal and atherosclerotic arteries. We conclude that this algorithm may facilitate tissue characterization by OCT.

Comparison of spatially and temporally resolved diffuse-reflectance measurement systems for determination of biomedical optical properties

Time-resolved and spatially resolved measurements of the diffuse reflectance from biological tissue are two well-established techniques for extracting the reduced scattering and absorption coefficients. We have performed a comparison study of the performance of a spatially resolved and a time-resolved instrument at wavelengths 660 and 786 nm and also of an integrating-sphere setup at 550-800 nm. The first system records the diffuse reflectance from a diode laser by means of a fiber bundle probe in contact with the sample. The time-resolved system utilizes picosecond laser pulses and a single-photon-counting detection scheme. We extracted the optical properties by calibration using known standards for the spatially resolved system, by fitting to the diffusion equation for the time-resolved system, and by using an inverse Monte Carlo model for the integrating sphere. The measurements were performed on a set of solid epoxy tissue phantoms. The results showed less than 10% difference in the evaluation of the reduced scattering coefficient among the systems for the phantoms in the range 9-20 cm(-1), and absolute differences of less than 0.05 cm(-1) for the absorption coefficient in the interval 0.05-0.30 cm(-1).

Changes in tissue optical properties due to radio-frequency ablation of myocardium

The optical properties of pig heart tissue were measured after in vivo ablation therapy had been performed during open-heart surgery. In vitro samples of normal and ablated tissue were subjected to measurements with an optically integrating sphere set-up in the region 470-900 nm. Three independent measurements were made: total transmittance, total reflectance and collimated transmittance, which made it possible to extract the absorption and scattering coefficients and the scattering anisotropy factor g, using an inverse Monte Carlo model. Between 470 and 700 nm, only the reduced scattering coefficient and absorption could be evaluated. The absorption spectra were fitted to known tissue chromophore spectra, so that the concentrations of haemoglobin and myoglobin could be estimated. The reduced scattering coefficient was compared with Mie computations to provide Mie equivalent average radii. Most of the absorption was from myoglobin, whereas haemoglobin absorption was negligible. Metmyoglobin was formed in the ablated tissue, which could yield a spectral signature to distinguish the ablated tissue with a simple optical probe to monitor the ablation therapy. The reduced scattering coefficient increased by, on average, 50% in the ablated tissue, which corresponded to a slight decrease in the Mie equivalent radius.

Accelerated Monte Carlo models to simulate fluorescence spectra from layered tissues

Two efficient Monte Carlo models are described, facilitating predictions of complete time-resolved fluorescence spectra from a light-scattering and light-absorbing medium. These are compared with a third, conventional fluorescence Monte Carlo model in terms of accuracy, signal-to-noise statistics, and simulation time. The improved computation efficiency is achieved by means of a convolution technique, justified by the symmetry of the problem. Furthermore, the reciprocity principle for photon paths, employed in one of the accelerated models, is shown to simplify the computations of the distribution of the emitted fluorescence drastically. A so-called white Monte Carlo approach is finally suggested for efficient simulations of one excitation wavelength combined with a wide range of emission wavelengths. The fluorescence is simulated in a purely scattering medium, and the absorption properties are instead taken into account analytically afterward. This approach is applicable to the conventional model as well as to the two accelerated models. Essentially the same absolute values for the fluorescence integrated over the emitting surface and time are obtained for the three models within the accuracy of the simulations. The time-resolved and spatially resolved fluorescence exhibits a slight overestimation at short delay times close to the source corresponding to approximately two grid elements for the accelerated models, as a result of the discretization and the convolution. The improved efficiency is most prominent for the reverse-emission accelerated model, for which the simulation time can be reduced by up to two orders of magnitude.

Influence of cell shape and aggregate formation on the optical properties of flowing whole blood

We studied the influence of shape and secondary, or intercellular, organization on the absorption and scattering properties of red blood cells to determine whether these properties are of any practical significance for optical evaluation of whole blood and its constituents. A series of measurements of transmittance and reflectance of light from bovine blood in a flow cuvette was conducted with a 650-900-nm integrating sphere at shear rates of 0-1600 s(-1), from which the influence of cell orientation, elongation, and aggregate formation on the absorption (mu(a)) and the reduced scattering (mu(s)') coefficients could be quantified. Aggregation was accompanied by a decrease of 4% in mu(s)' compared with the value in randomly oriented single cells. Increasing the degree of cell alignment and elongation as a result of increasing shear rate reduced mu(s)' by 6% and mu(a) by 3%, evaluated at a shear rate of 1600 s(-1). Comparison with T-matrix computations for oblate- and prolate-shaped cells with corresponding elongation and orientation indicates that the optical properties of whole blood are determined by those of its individual cells, though influenced by a collective scattering factor that depends on the cell-to-cell organization. We demonstrate that cell morphological changes must be taken into consideration when one is conducting whole blood spectroscopy.

The Bacillus subtilis pnbA gene encoding p-nitrobenzyl esterase: cloning, sequence and high-level expression in Escherichia coli

p-Nitrobenzyl esters serve as protecting groups on intermediates in the manufacture of clinically important oral beta-lactam antibiotics; de-esterification of the intermediates is required for synthesis of the final product. A Bacillus subtilis PNB carboxy-esterase (PNBCE) catalyzes hydrolysis of several beta-lactam antibiotic PNB esters to the corresponding free acid and PNB alcohol. This communication (i) describes cloning the pnbA gene, which encodes PNBCE, (ii) provides the nucleotide sequence of the pnbA open reading frame (ORF) and (iii) describes a method for efficiently expressing the ORF in Escherichia coli. The amino acid (aa) sequence, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the pnbA ORF, matched an experimentally determined N-terminal aa sequence of B. subtilis PNBCE and also matched an active site sequence previously identified by biochemical analyses. Specific activity of PNBCE in crude extracts was more than 90-fold greater in recombinant E. coli, as compared to B. subtilis. This increase in expression led to more than a 500-fold improvement in the efficiency of purification of PNBCE.