Oligosaccharide specificity of galectins: a search by frontal affinity chromatography

Galectins are widely distributed sugar-binding proteins whose basic specificity for beta-galactosides is conserved by evolutionarily preserved carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs). Although they have long been believed to be involved in diverse biological phenomena critical for multicellular organisms, in only few a cases has it been proved that their in vivo functions are actually based on specific recognition of the complex carbohydrates expressed on cell surfaces. To obtain clues to understand the physiological roles of diverse members of the galectin family, detailed analysis of their sugar-binding specificity is necessary from a comparative viewpoint. For this purpose, we recently reinforced a conventional system for frontal affinity chromatography (FAC) [J. Chromatogr., B, Biomed. Sci. Appl. 771 (2002) 67-87]. By using this system, we quantitatively analyzed the interactions at 20 degrees C between 13 galectins including 16 CRDs originating from mammals, chick, nematode, sponge, and mushroom, with 41 pyridylaminated (PA) oligosaccharides. As a result, it was confirmed that galectins require three OH groups of N-acetyllactosamine, as had previously been denoted, i.e., 4-OH and 6-OH of Gal, and 3-OH of GlcNAc. As a matter of fact, no galectin could bind to glycolipid-type glycans (e.g., GM2, GA2, Gb3), complex-type N-glycans, of which both 6-OH groups are sialylated, nor Le-related antigens (e.g., Le(x), Le(a)). On the other hand, considerable diversity was observed for individual galectins in binding specificity in terms of (1) branching of N-glycans, (2) repeating of N-acetyllactosamine units, or (3) substitutions at 2-OH or 3-OH groups of nonreducing terminal Gal. Although most galectins showed moderately enhanced affinity for branched N-glycans or repeated N-acetyllactosamines, some of them had extremely enhanced affinity for either of these multivalent glycans. Some galectins also showed particular preference for alpha1-2Fuc-, alpha1-3Gal-, alpha1-3GalNAc-, or alpha2-3NeuAc-modified glycans. To summarize, galectins have evolved their sugar-binding specificity by enhancing affinity to either "branched", "repeated", or "substituted" glycans, while conserving their ability to recognize basic disaccharide units, Galbeta1-3/4GlcNAc. On these bases, they are considered to exert specialized functions in diverse biological phenomena, which may include formation of local cell-surface microdomains (raft) by sorting glycoconjugate members for each cell type.

Replacing antibodies with aptamers in lateral flow immunoassay

Aptamers have been identified against various targets as a type of chemical or nucleic acid ligand by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) with high sensitivity and specificity. Aptamers show remarkable advantages over antibodies due to the nucleic acid nature and target-induced structure-switching properties and are widely used to design various fluorescent, electrochemical, or colorimetric biosensors. However, the practical applications of aptamer-based sensing and diagnostics are still lagging behind those of antibody-based tests. Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) represents a well established and appropriate technology among rapid assays because of its low cost and user-friendliness. The antibody-based platform is utilized to detect numerous targets, but it is always hampered by the antibody preparation time, antibody stability, and effect of modification on the antibody. Seeking alternatives to antibodies is an area of active research and is of tremendous importance. Aptamers are receiving increasing attention in lateral flow applications because of a number of important potential performance advantages. We speculate that aptamer-based LFIA may be one of the first platforms for commercial use of aptamer-based diagnosis. This review first gives an introduction to aptamer including the selection process SELEX with its focus on aptamer advantages over antibodies, and then depicts LFIA with its focus on aptamer opportunities in LFIA over antibodies. Furthermore, we summarize the recent advances in the development of aptamer-based lateral flow biosensing assays with the aim to provide a general guide for the design of aptamer-based lateral flow biosensing assays.

Prediction of the performance of preparative affinity chromatography

This paper describes a theoretical approach to the prediction of the performance of preparative affinity separations for biological macromolecules in packed columns. The approach, which is applicable to conventional low-pressure packed column methods as well as high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, requires knowledge of certain parameters that describe the interactions between adsorbent and adsorbate during the affinity separation procedure. We have measured the parameters appropriate to the adsorption stages of affinity systems involving immobilised Cibacron Blue and immobilised monoclonal antibodies against beta-galactosidase. The theoretical predictions appear to agree well with the experimental performance of batch and packed column affinity systems. The influence of the factors that govern the performance of the adsorption stage of the separation procedure is explained in detail, and the possible advantages of using HPLC techniques in macropreparative affinity chromatography are discussed.

Diagnostic methods and potential portable biosensors for coronavirus disease 2019

Timely detection and diagnosis are urgently needed to guide epidemiological measures, infection control, antiviral treatment, and vaccine research. In this review, biomarkers/indicators for diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the environment are summarized and discussed. It is concluded that the detection methods targeting antibodies are not suitable for screening of early and asymptomatic cases since most patients had an antibody response at about 10 days after onset of symptoms. However, antibody detection methods can be combined with quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis, and boost vaccine research. Fast, sensitive and accurate detection methods targeting antigens need to be developed urgently. Various specimens for diagnosis or detection are compared and analyzed. Among them, deep throat saliva and induced sputum are desired for RT-qPCR test or other early detection technologies. Chest computerized tomography (CT) scan, RT-qPCR, lateral flow immunochromatographic strip (LFICS) for diagnosis of COVID-19 are summarized and compared. Specially, potential electrochemical (EC) biosensor, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based biosensor, field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensor, surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensor and artificial intelligence (AI) assisted diagnosis of COVID-19 are emphasized. Finally, some commercialized portable detection device, current challenges and future directions are discussed.

Direct chromatographic capture of enzyme from crude homogenate using immobilized metal affinity chromatography on a continuous supermacroporous adsorbent

A continuous supermacroporous matrix has been developed allowing direct capture of enzyme from non-clarified crude cell homogenate at high flow-rates. The continuous supermacroporous matrix has been produced by radical co-polymerization of acrylamide, allyl glycidyl ether and N,N'-methylene-bis(acrylamide) which proceeds in aqueous solution of monomers frozen inside a column (cryo-polymerization). After thawing, the column contains a continuous matrix having interconnected pores of 10-100 microm size. Iminodiacetic acid covalently coupled to the cryogel is a rendering possibility for immobilized metal affinity chromatographic purification of recombinant His-tagged lactate dehydrogenase, (His)6-LDH, originating from thermophilic bacterium Bacillus stearothermophilus, but expressed in Escherichia coli. The large pore size of the adsorbent makes it possible to process particulate-containing material without blocking the column. No preliminary filtration or centrifugation is needed before application of crude extract on the supermacroporous column. A total of 210 ml crude homogenate, 75 ml of it non-clarified, was processed on a single 5.0 ml supermacroporous column at flow speeds up to 12.5 ml/min without noticeable impairment of the column properties. Mechanically the cryogel adsorbent is very stable. The continuous matrix could easily be removed from the column, dried at 70 degrees C and kept in a dry state. After rehydration and reinsertion of the matrix into an empty column, (His)6-LDH was purified as efficiently as on the newly prepared column. The procedure of manufacturing the supermacroporous continuous cryogel is technically simple. Starting materials and initiators are cheap and available and are simply mixed and frozen under specified conditions. Altogether these qualities reveal that the supermacroporous continuous cryogels is a very interesting alternative to existing methods of protein purification from particulate-containing crude extracts.

Evaluation of multiprotein immunoaffinity subtraction for plasma proteomics and candidate biomarker discovery using mass spectrometry

Strategies for removal of high abundance proteins have been increasingly utilized in proteomic studies of serum/plasma and other body fluids to enhance the detection of low abundance proteins and achieve broader proteome coverage; however, both the reproducibility and specificity of the high abundance protein depletion process still represent common concerns. Here we report a detailed evaluation of immunoaffinity subtraction performed applying the ProteomeLab IgY-12 system that is commonly used in human serum/plasma proteome characterization in combination with high resolution LC-MS/MS. Plasma samples were repeatedly processed using this approach, and the resulting flow-through fractions and bound fractions were individually analyzed for comparison. The removal of target proteins by the immunoaffinity subtraction system and the overall process was highly reproducible. Non-target proteins, including one spiked protein standard (rabbit glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), were also observed to bind to the column at different levels but also in a reproducible manner. The results suggest that multiprotein immunoaffinity subtraction systems can be readily integrated into quantitative strategies to enhance detection of low abundance proteins in biomarker discovery studies.

Affinity monolith chromatography

The combined use of monolithic supports with selective affinity ligands as stationary phases has recently given rise to a new method known as affinity monolith chromatography (AMC). This review will discuss the basic principles behind AMC and examine the types of supports and ligands that have been employed in this method. Approaches for placing affinity ligands in monoliths will be considered, including methods based on covalent immobilization, biospecific adsorption, entrapment, and the formation of coordination complexes. Several reported applications will then be presented, such as the use of AMC for bioaffinity chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography, immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography, dye-ligand affinity chromatography, and biomimetic chromatography. Other applications that will be discussed are chiral separations and studies of biological interactions based on AMC.

Direct measurement of DNA affinity landscapes on a high-throughput sequencing instrument

Several methods for characterizing DNA-protein interactions are available, but none have demonstrated both high throughput and quantitative measurement of affinity. Here we describe 'high-throughput sequencing'-'fluorescent ligand interaction profiling' (HiTS-FLIP), a technique for measuring quantitative protein-DNA binding affinity at unprecedented depth. In this approach, the optics built into a high-throughput sequencer are used to visualize in vitro binding of a protein to sequenced DNA in a flow cell. Application of HiTS-FLIP to the protein Gcn4 (Gcn4p), the master regulator of the yeast amino acid starvation response, yielded ~440 million binding measurements, enabling determination of dissociation constants for all 12-mer sequences having submicromolar affinity. These data revealed a complex interdependency between motif positions, allowed improved discrimination of in vivo Gcn4p binding sites and regulatory targets relative to previous methods and showed that sets of genes with different promoter affinities to Gcn4p have distinct functions and expression kinetics. Broad application of this approach should increase understanding of the interactions that drive transcription.

High-performance liquid chromatography of biopolymers

The ability to separate biological macromolecules with good resolution on liquid chromatographic columns has depended on the development of suitable packing materials. In size exclusion chromatography, molecules are separated by size on the basis of differential permeation of the packing. Ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction (or reversed-phase), and affinity chromatography are all surface-mediated separation methods, although they depend on different retention mechanisms. High-performance liquid chromatographic columns designed for biopolymers offer major advantages over conventional columns in both speed and resolving power. The exponential growth of literature on the high-performance separation of peptides and proteins in particular indicates that the technique will become the dominant form of column liquid chromatography.

A Serological Point-of-Care Test for the Detection of IgG Antibodies against Ebola Virus in Human Survivors

Ebola virus disease causes widespread and highly fatal epidemics in human populations. Today, there is still great need for point-of-care tests for diagnosis, patient management and surveillance, both during and post outbreaks. We present a point-of-care test comprising an immunochromatographic strip and a smartphone reader, which detects and semiquantifies Ebola-specific antibodies in human survivors. We developed a Sudan virus glycoprotein monoplex platform and validated it using sera from 90 human survivors and 31 local noninfected controls. The performance of the glycoprotein monoplex was 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity compared to standard whole antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and it was validated with freshly collected patient samples in Uganda. Moreover, we constructed a multiplex test for simultaneous detection of antibodies against three recombinant Sudan virus proteins. A pilot study comprising 15 survivors and 5 noninfected controls demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 100% compared to standard ELISA. Finally, we developed a second multiplex subtype assay for the identification of exposure to three related EVD species: Sudan virus, Bundibugyo virus and Ebola virus (formerly Zaire) using recombinant viral glycoprotein. This multiplex test could distinguish between the host's immunity to specific viral species and identify cross-reactive immunity. These developed serological platforms consisted of capture ligands with high specificity and sensitivity, in-house developed strips and a compatible smartphone application. These platforms enabled rapid and portable testing, data storage and sharing as well as geographical tagging of the tested individuals in Uganda. This platform holds great potential as a field tool for diagnosis, vaccine development, and therapeutic evaluation.

Multi-component immunochromatographic assay for simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in agro-food

Mycotoxins are highly toxic contaminants and have induced health threat to human and animals. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEA) commonly occur in food and feed. A multi-component immunochromatographic assay (ICA) was developed for rapid and simultaneous determination of these three mycotoxins in agro-food. The strategy was performed based on the competitive immunoreactions between antibody-colloidal gold nanoparticle conjugate probes and mycotoxins or mycotixin antigens. Each monoclonal antibody specially recognize its corresponding mycotoxin and antigen, and there was no cross reactivity in the assay. Three mycotixin antigens were immobilized as three test lines in the nitrocellulose membrane reaction zone, which enable the simultaneous detection in one single test. The visible ICA results were obtained in 20 min. The visual detection limits of this strip test for the AFB1, OTA and ZEA were 0.25 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL and 1 ng/mL, respectively. The assay was evaluated using spiked and naturally contaminated peanuts, maize and rice samples. The results were in accordance with those obtained using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In summary, this developed ICA could provide an effective and rapid approach for onsite detection of multi-mycotoxin in agro-food samples without any expensive instrument.

Towards Lateral Flow Quantitative Assays: Detection Approaches

Point-of-care (POC) or bedside analysis is a global trend in modern diagnostics. Progress in POC testing has largely been provided by advanced manufacturing technology for lateral flow (immunochromatographic) test strips. They are widely used to rapidly and easily control a variety of biomarkers of infectious diseases and metabolic and functional disorders, as well as in consumer protection and environmental monitoring. However, traditional lateral flow tests rely on visual assessment and qualitative conclusion, which limit the objectivity and information output of the assays. Therefore, there is a need for approaches that retain the advantages of lateral flow assays and provide reliable quantitative information about the content of a target compound in a sample mixture. This review describes the main options for detecting, processing, and interpreting immunochromatographic analysis results. The possibilities of modern portable detectors that register colored, fluorescent, magnetic, and conductive labels are discussed. Prospects for further development in this direction are also examined.

Chromatographic separation of proteins on metal immobilized iminodiacetic acid-bound molded monolithic rods of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate)

Continuous rod of macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene dimethacrylate) was prepared by a free radical polymerization within the confines of a stainless-steel column. The epoxide groups of the rod were modified by a reaction with iminodiacetic acid (IDA) that affords the active site to form metal IDA chelates used for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The efficiency of coupling of IDA to the epoxide-contained matrix was studied as a function of reaction time and temperature. High-performance separation of proteins, based on immobilized different metals on the column, were described. The influence of pH on the adsorption capacity of bovine serum albumin on the Cu2+-IDA continuous rod column was investigated in the range from 5.0 to 9.0. Purification of lysozyme from egg white and human serum albumin (HSA) on the commercially available HSA solution were performed on the naked IDA and Cu2+-IDA continuous rod columns, respectively; and the purity of the obtained fractions was detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

High-Performance Affinity Monolith Chromatography: Development and Evaluation of Human Serum Albumin Columns

Several immobilization methods were explored for the preparation of high-performance affinity monolithic columns containing human serum albumin (HSA). These monoliths were based on a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate. In one method, the epoxy groups of this copolymer were used directly for the immobilization of HSA through its amine residues (i.e., the epoxy method); in other approaches, these epoxy groups were converted to diols for later use in the carbonyldiimidazole, disuccinimidyl carbonate, and Schiff base methods. Each HSA monolith was evaluated in terms of its total protein content and its retention of several model compounds, including (R/S)-warfarin and D/L-tryptophan. The greatest amount of immobilized HSA was obtained by the Schiff base method, whereas the epoxy method gave the lowest protein content. The Schiff base method also gave the best resolution in chiral separations of (R/S)-warfarin and D/L-tryptophan. All of the immobilization methods gave similar relative activities for HSA in its binding to (R)- and (S)-warfarin, but some differences were noted in the activity of the immobilized HSA for D- and L-tryptophan. The efficiency of these monoliths was found to be greater than that of silica-based HSA columns for (R/S)-warfarin (i.e., analytes with high retention), but little or no difference was seen for D- and L-tryptophan (analytes with weak retention).

Purification of biotinylated proteins on streptavidin resin: A protocol for quantitative elution

The interaction between streptavidin and biotin is one of the most widely used tools in chemistry and biology. However, the release of biotinylated proteins from streptavidin resins remains a major problem, due to the extraordinary stability of this complex. We present a new protocol for the quantitative elution of biotinylated proteins from streptavidin Sepharose, featuring harsh elution conditions and competition with free biotin. The usefulness of the method was demonstrated by the quantitative recovery of biotinylated proteins from organ homogenates, obtained from mice perfused with a reactive ester derivative of biotin.

Immunochromatographic diagnostic test analysis using Google Glass

We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health.

Affinity monolith chromatography: a review of principles and recent analytical applications

Affinity monolith chromatography (AMC) is a type of liquid chromatography that uses a monolithic support and a biologically related binding agent as a stationary phase. AMC is a powerful method for the selective separation, analysis, or study of specific target compounds in a sample. This review discusses the basic principles of AMC and recent developments and applications of this method, with particular emphasis being given to work that has appeared in the last 5 years. Various materials that have been used to prepare columns for AMC are examined, including organic monoliths, silica monoliths, agarose monoliths, and cryogels. These supports have been used in AMC for formats that have ranged from traditional columns to disks, microcolumns, and capillaries. Many binding agents have also been employed in AMC, such as antibodies, enzymes, proteins, lectins, immobilized metal ions, and dyes. Some applications that have been reported with these binding agents in AMC are bioaffinity chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography or immunoextraction, immobilized-metal-ion affinity chromatography, dye-ligand affinity chromatography, chiral separations, and biointeraction studies. Examples are presented from fields that include analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, clinical testing, and biotechnology. Current trends and possible directions in AMC are also discussed.

Adsorption characteristics of an immobilized metal affinity membrane

An immobilized metal affinity (IMA) hollow-fiber membrane was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto a porous polyethylene hollow fiber, followed by chemical conversion of the produced epoxide group into an iminodiacetate (IDA) group and its chelation with copper(II) ion. The IDA hollow fiber, whose degree of GMA grafting was 120%, was found to retain 0.42 mol of Cu ion/kg of dry weight of the resulting IMA hollow fiber. The pure water flux of the affinity membrane was 0.90 m/h at a filtration pressure of 1 x 10(5) Pa. The 0.1 g/L L-histidyl-L-leucine (His-Leu) solution permeated across the IMA hollow fiber, whose inner diameter and thickness were 0.78 and 0.365 mm, respectively, at a prescribed filtration pressure ranging from 0.2 x 10(5) to 1.0 x 10(5) Pa. The adsorption of His-Leu during permeation of the solution showed that the overall adsorption rate was independent of the filtration pressure, i.e., the residence time, because of the negligible diffusional resistance of His-Leu to the pseudobioaffinity ligand located on the pore surface of the membrane. No deterioration in the adsorption capacity was observed after five cycles of His-Leu adsorption, its elution, and reimmobilization of copper. The adsorption isotherm of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the IMA hollow fiber was measured and compared with that for the conventional agarose-based bead containing the IDA-Cu ligand.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ultrasensitive Immunochromatographic Strip for Fast Screening of 27 Sulfonamides in Honey and Pork Liver Samples Based on a Monoclonal Antibody

Group-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) with selectivity for 27 sulfonamides were developed based on new combinations of immunogen and coating antigen. The Mab was able to recognize 27 sulfonamides with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values ranging from 0.15 to 15.38 μg/L. In particular, the IC₅₀ values for five sulfonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadimethoxine, and sulfamethoxazole) were 0.51, 0.15, 0.56, 0.54, and 2.14 μg/L, respectively. On the basis of the Mab, an immunochromatographic lateral flow strip test was established for rapid screening of sulfonamides in honey samples. The visual limit of detection of the strip test for most sulfonamides in spiked honey samples was below 10 μg/kg, satisfying the requirements of authorities. Positive honey and pork liver samples, which had been confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, were used to validate the reliability of the proposed strip test. The immunochromatographic lateral flow strip test provides a rapid and convenient method for fast screening of sulfonamides in honey samples.

Multiplexed enrichment and detection of malarial biomarkers using a stimuli-responsive iron oxide and gold nanoparticle reagent system

There is a need for simple yet robust biomarker and antigen purification and enrichment strategies that are compatible with current rapid diagnostic modalities. Here, a stimuli-responsive nanoparticle system is presented for multiplexed magneto-enrichment and non-instrumented lateral flow strip detection of model antigens from spiked pooled plasma. The integrated reagent system allows purification and enrichment of the gold-labeled biomarker half-sandwich that can be applied directly to lateral flow test strips. A linear diblock copolymer with a thermally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) segment and a gold-binding block composed of NIPAm-co-N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylamide was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The diblock copolymer was used to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), with subsequent bioconjugation to yield thermally responsive pNIPAm-AuNPs that were co-decorated with streptavidin. These AuNPs efficiently complexed biotinylated capture antibody reagents that were bound to picomolar quantities of pan-aldolase and Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) in spiked pooled plasma samples. The gold-labeled biomarker half-sandwich was then purified and enriched using 10 nm thermally responsive magnetic nanoparticles that were similarly decorated with pNIPAm. When a thermal stimulus was applied in conjunction with a magnetic field, coaggregation of the AuNP half-sandwiches with the pNIPAm-coated iron oxide nanoparticles created large aggregates that were efficiently magnetophoresed and separated from bulk serum. The purified biomarkers from a spiked pooled plasma sample could be concentrated 50-fold into a small volume and applied directly to a commercial multiplexed lateral flow strip to dramatically improve the signal-to-noise ratio and test sensitivity.

Surface-modified membranes as a matrix for protein purification

Recently introduced membrane-based chromatographic supports for protein separation are available either with a coupled ligand, e.g., protein A, protein G or ion-exchange groups, or as activated matrices for coupling a desired ligand. The coupling conditions for protein A and immunoglobulin G to an epoxy-activated membrane were determined. The performance of the prepared affinity membranes was investigated using pure rabbit immunoglobulin G and protein A as a model system. For practical application monoclonal antibodies from cell culture supernatant were purified with a prepared protein A membrane and for comparison with a sulphonic acid ion exchange membrane.

Rapid and quantitative detection of prostate specific antigen with a quantum dot nanobeads-based immunochromatography test strip

Convenient and fast testing using an immunochromatography test strip (ICTS) enables rapid yes/no decisions regarding a disease to be made. However, the fundamental limitations of an ICTS, such as a lack of quantitative and sensitive analysis, severely hampers its application in reliable medical testing for the early detection of cancer. Herein, we overcame these limitations by integrating an ICTS with quantum dot nanobeads (QD nanobeads), which were fabricated by encapsulating QDs within modified poly(tert-butyl acrylate-co-ethyl acrylate-co-methacrylic acid) and served as a robust signal-generating reagent for the ICTS. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was used as a model analyte to demonstrate the performance of the QD nanobeads-based ICTS platform. Under optimized conditions, the concentration of PSA could be determined within 15 min with high sensitivity and specificity using only 40 μL of sample. The detection limit was enhanced by ∼12-fold compared with that of an ICTS that used QDs encapsulated by commercial 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (QDs@MUA) as the signal-generating reagent. At the same time, the possible clinical utility of this approach was demonstrated by measurements recorded from PSA-positive patient specimens. Our data suggest that the QD nanobeads-based ICTS platform is not only rapid and low-cost but also highly sensitive and specific for use in quantitative point-of-care diagnostics; thus, it holds promise for becoming a part of routine medical testing for the early cancer of detection.

Use of a heterodimeric coiled-coil system for biosensor application and affinity purification

The two-stranded alpha-helical coiled-coil is now recognized as one of nature's favorite ways of creating a dimerization motif. Based on the knowledge of protein folding studies and de novo design model systems, a novel heterodimeric coiled-coil protein was synthesized. The heterodimeric E/K coiled-coil was constructed with two distinct peptides (E and K) that will spontaneously associate into a full helical coiled-coil structure in solution. Equilibrium CD, NMR and real time biosensor kinetics experiments showed that the E/K coiled-coil is both structurally (deltaG(unfold)=11.3 kcal/mol) and kinetically (Kd approximately 1 nM) stable in solution at neutral pH. The engineered coiled-coil had been applied as a dimerization and capture domain for biosensor based applications and used in an expression/detection/affinity chromatography system. Specific test examples demonstrated the usefulness of the E/K heterodimeric system in these applications. The universality of coiled-coil as a dimerization motif in nature and our ability to design and synthesize these proteins suggest a wide variety of applications.