Optical Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis.

We studied the optical sensing properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis. To investigate their optical sensing performance, we incubated peptides on ZnO nanoparticles. The photoluminescence (PL) peak intensity of peptides on the ZnO nanoparticles was higher than that of peptides on the ZnO film or on the glass plate. This observed PL enhancement is attributed to the optical confinement of ZnO nanoparticles. The low-temperature spectra displayed a strong exciton emission peak with multiple sidebands, attributed to the bound exciton and its longitudinal optical phonon sidebands. The strong exciton emission is thought to be the combined effect of optical confinement due to the nanoparticle geometry, reduction of defect emission by thermal annealing, and reduction of non-radiative relaxation at low temperatures.

Neonatal Fc receptor antagonist efgartigimod safely and sustainably reduces IgGs in humans.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous Ig (IVIg), plasma exchange, and immunoadsorption are frequently used in the management of severe autoimmune diseases mediated by pathogenic IgG autoantibodies. These approaches modulating IgG levels can, however, be associated with some severe adverse reactions and a substantial burden to patients. Targeting the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) presents an innovative and potentially more effective, safer, and more convenient alternative for clearing pathogenic IgGs. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled first-in-human study was conducted in 62 healthy volunteers to explore single and multiple ascending intravenous doses of the FcRn antagonist efgartigimod. The study objectives were to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity. The findings of this study were compared with the pharmacodynamics profile elicited by efgartigimod in cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: Efgartigimod treatment resulted in a rapid and specific clearance of serum IgG levels in both cynomolgus monkeys and healthy volunteers. In humans, single administration of efgartigimod reduced IgG levels up to 50%, while multiple dosing further lowered IgGs on average by 75% of baseline levels. Approximately 8 weeks following the last administration, IgG levels returned to baseline. Efgartigimod did not alter the homeostasis of albumin or Igs other than IgG, and no serious adverse events related to efgartigimod infusion were observed. CONCLUSION: Antagonizing FcRn using efgartigimod is safe and results in a specific, profound, and sustained reduction of serum IgG levels. These results warrant further evaluation of this therapeutic approach in IgG-driven autoimmune diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03457649. FUNDING: argenx BVBA.

Development of a novel imaging agent using peptide-coated gold nanoparticles toward brain glioma stem cell marker CD133.

CD133 is known as biomarker for glioblastoma (GBM) and also serves as a marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs), which carry out tumorigenesis and resist conventional therapeutics. The presence of CD133-presenting CSC is a one of the factors in maintenance of the tumorigenic potential of GBM. Thus, CD133 is a potential target for accurate diagnosis of GBM, which could improve its poor prognosis for patients when CSCs are present. Herein we designed a small peptide-based imaging agent with stimulus-responsive properties. A novel small peptide, CBP4, was screened by a phage display technique, and demonstrated binding to the target CD133 (ECD) comparable to that of an antibody. As a quencher, we used gold nanoparticles (GNPs); the targeting peptide was conjugated to GNPs with high efficiency. By means of a quenching effect, the peptide-coated GNP showed 'signal on-off' properties depending upon the presence of the target. In addition, the particles exhibited biocompatibility when localized in the cytosol. Thus, this study demonstrated that the peptide-coated GNPs can be utilized as an imaging agent for accurate diagnosis of GBM, and further as a drug carrier for therapeutic approaches. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The diagnosis and determination of prognosis made by cancer stem cell markers could be a key strategy to eradicate cancer stem cells and cure the cancer. The significance of this study is the characterization of quenching-based signal on-off mechanism and showed that the active targeting via peptide can contribute to the design of a stimulus-responsive cellular imaging agent. Moreover, small peptide based nano complexation showed specific recognition of the target stem cell and internalized on cellular cyotosol with stimulus responsive fluorescence. With its novel biocompatibility, the strategy might be a promising tool for drug carrier systems able to measure and visualize the delivered efficiency at intracellular sites.

Use of Multiple Peptide-Based SERS Probes Binding to Different Epitopes on a Protein Biomarker To Improve Detection Sensitivity.

We propose an analytical strategy to improve the sensitivity for detecting a protein biomarker through signal multiplication by manipulating multiple peptide-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes to bind the biomarker. Protective antigen (PA) was used as an Anthrax biomarker in this study. For this purpose, five small peptides selective to various PA epitopes with different binding affinities were chosen and peptide-conjugated Au nanoparticle (AuNP) SERS probes were individually prepared using each peptide. Initially, five different SERS probes were separately used to detect PA and the sensitivities were compared. Next, the possibility of enhancing sensitivity by employing multiple SERS probes was examined. Rather than applying the probes simultaneously, which would induce competitive binding, each probe was added sequentially and an optimal probe-addition sequence was determined to provide maximal sensitivity. Finally, PA samples at seven different concentrations were measured with the optimal sequence. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.1 aM, and the enhancement was more effective at lower PA concentrations. The proposed scheme can be further applicable to detect other protein biomarkers to diagnose various diseases.

Design of a PKCδ-specific small peptide as a theragnostic agent for glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive malignant brain tumor that starts in the brain or spine and frequently recurs after anticancer treatment. The development of an accurate diagnostic system combined with effective cancer therapy is essential to improve prognosis of glioma patients. Peptides, produced from phage display, are attractive biomolecules for glioma treatment because of their biostability, nontoxicity, and small size. In this study, we employed phage display methodology to screen for peptides that specifically recognize the target PKCδ as a novel biomarker for glioma. The phage library screening yielded four different peptides displayed on phages with a 20- to 200-pM Kd value for the recombinant PKCδ catalytic domain. Among these four phage peptides, we selected one to synthesize and tagged it with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) based on the sequence of the PKCδ-binding phage clone. The synthetic peptide showed a relative binding affinity for antibody and localization in the U373 glioma cell. The kinase activity of PKCδ was inhibited by FITC-labeled peptide with an IC50 of 1.4 µM in vitro. Consequently, the peptide found in this study might be a promising therapeutic agent against malignant brain tumor.

Feasibility of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation as a method for detecting protective antigen by direct recognition of size-increased target-captured nanoprobes.

Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) was evaluated as a potential analytical method for detection of a protective antigen (PA), an Anthrax biomarker. The scheme was based on the recognition of altered AF4 retention through the generation of the size-increased Au nanoparticle probes as a result of PA binding, in which a PA-selective peptide was conjugated on the probe surface. In the visible absorption-based AF4 fractograms, the band position shifted to a longer retention time as the PA concentration increased due to the presence of probe bound with PAs. The shift was insignificant when the concentration was relatively low at 84.3pM. To improve sensitivity, two separate probes conjugated with two different peptides able to bind on different PA epitopes were used together. The band shift then became distinguishable even at 84.3pM of PA sample. The formation of larger PA-probe inter-connected species using the dual-probe system was responsible for the enhanced band shift. In parallel, the feasibility of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) as a potential AF4 detection method was also evaluated. In the off-line SERS fractogram constructed using fractions collected during AF4 separation, a band shift was also observed for the 84.3pM PA sample, and the band intensity was higher when using the dual-probe system. The combination of AF4 and SERS is promising for the detection of PA and will become a potential tool if the reproducibility of SERS measurement is improved.

Functional evaluation of residues in the herbicide-binding site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis acetohydroxyacid synthase by site-directed mutagenesis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis acetohydroxyacid synthase (M. tuberculosis AHAS) has been proposed to bean essential target for novel herbicide- and chemical-based antibacterial agents. Therefore, here we investigated the roles of multiple conserved herbicide-binding site residues (R318, A146, Q148, M512, and V513) in M. tuberculosis AHAS through site-directed mutagenesis by characterizing the kinetic parameters and herbicide sensitivities of various point mutants. Interestingly, all mutant enzymes showed significantly altered kinetic parameters, specifically reduced affinity towards both the substrate and cofactor. Importantly, mutation of R318 led to a complete loss of AHAS activity, indicating a key role for this residue in substrate binding. Furthermore, all mutants demonstrated significant herbicide resistance against chlorimuron ethyl (CE), with several-fold higher IC50 than that of wild type AHAS. Docking analysis also indicated that binding of CE was slightly affected upon mutation of these residues. Taken together, these data suggest that the residues examined here mediate CE binding and may also be important for the catalytic activity of AHAS. This study will pave the way for future structure-function studies of CE and will also aid the development of novel anti-tuberculosis agents based on this chemical scaffold.

A novel peptide-based recognition probe for the sensitive detection of CD44 on breast cancer stem cells.

Metastasis and recurrence of breast cancer remain significant clinical problems. The expression level of CD44 protein is higher in breast cancer-initiating cancer stem cells; therefore, the early detection of CD44 using a sensitive diagnostic probe is important for breast cancer diagnosis and therapeutic purposes. In this study, we fabricated a polyvalent directed peptide polymer (PDPP) that specifically recognized the CD44 biomarker, as confirmed by immunocytochemistry tests and fluorescence-activated cell sorting assessment. Our results indicate that PDPP is useful as a novel tool for the sensitive detection of breast cancer stem cells.

Advances in Anthrax Detection: Overview of Bioprobes and Biosensors.

Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Although anthrax commonly affects domestic and wild animals, it causes a rare but lethal infection in humans. A variety of techniques have been introduced and evaluated to detect anthrax using cultures, polymerase chain reaction, and immunoassays to address the potential threat of anthrax being used as a bioweapon. The high-potential harm of anthrax in bioterrorism requires sensitive and specific detection systems that are rapid, field-ready, and real-time monitoring. Here, we provide a systematic overview of anthrax detection probes with their potential applications in various ultra-sensitive diagnostic systems.

Development of receptor-based inhibitory RNA aptamers for anthrax toxin neutralization.

Anthrax toxin excreted by Bacillus anthracis is the key causative agent of infectious anthrax disease. In the present study, we targeted the binding of PA to the ATR/TEM8 Von Willebrand factor type A (VWA) domain, which we cloned into Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity under denaturing conditions. To develop an anthrax toxin inhibitor, we selected and identified short single strand RNA aptamers (approximately 30mer) consisting of different sequences of nucleic acids with a high binding affinity in the 100 nanomolar range against the recombinant ATR/TEM8 VWA domain using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Five candidate aptamers were further characterized by several techniques including secondary structural analysis. The inhibitor efficiency (IC50) of one of the aptamers toward anthrax toxin was approximately 5µM in macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, as determined from cytotoxicity analysis by MTT assay. We believe that the candidate aptamers should be useful for blocking the binding of PA to its receptor in order to neutralize anthrax toxin.

Characterization of acetohydroxyacid synthase I from Escherichia coli K-12 and identification of its inhibitors.

The first step in branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis is catalyzed by acetohydroxyacid synthase (EC 2.2.1.6). This reaction involves decarboxylation of pyruvate followed by condensation with either an additional pyruvate molecule or with 2-oxobutyrate. The enzyme requires three cofactors, thiamine diphosphate (ThDP), a divalent ion, and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Escherichia coli contains three active isoenzymes, and acetohydroxyacid synthase I (AHAS I) large subunit is encoded by the ilvB gene. In this study, the ilvB gene from E. coli K-12 was cloned into expression vector pETDuet-1, and was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DH3). The purified protein was identified on a 12% SDS-PAGE gel as a single band with a mass of 65 kDa. The optimum temperature, buffer, and pH for E. coli K-12 AHAS I were 37 °C, potassium phosphate buffer, and 7.5. Km values for E. coli K-12 AHAS I binding to pyruvate, Mg(+2), ThDP, and FAD were 4.15, 1.26, 0.2 mM, and 0.61 µM respectively. Inhibition of purified AHAS I protein was determined with herbicides and new compounds.