Method for quantifying free hemoglobin, distinct from the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex, in human serum.

The measurement of free hemoglobin (free Hb) in blood is crucial for assessing the risk of organ damage in patients with hemolytic diseases. However, the colorimetric method, commonly used in clinical practice, does not distinguish between free Hb and the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex (Hb-Hp) in the blood, instead reflecting the total Hb level. Although size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SEC-HPLC) can specifically measure free Hb, its clinical use is limited by long assay times. Here, we developed a novel assay method for the rapid quantification of free Hb in serum, distinguishing it from Hb-Hp, using a latex agglutination immunoturbidimetric assay (LATIA). This method could be used to measure free Hb in sera in the range of 1 to 100 µg /mL in approximately 15 min using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Using Hb-spiked serum samples from healthy adults, there was a high correlation with Hb levels determined using the newly developed method and SEC-HPLC, indicating a high specificity for free Hb. This novel assay can be used to monitor levels of free Hb in patients with various hemolytic diseases and to design therapeutic strategies based on measured values. However, further studies are required to assess its clinical performance.

Immunochromatographic detection of human hemoglobin from deteriorated bloodstains due to methamphetamine contamination, aging, and heating.

Japanese police conduct highly sensitive and quick blood tests to detect human hemoglobin (Hb), because bloodstains left at a crime scene have probative value of circumstantial evidence in a criminal investigation. Although DNA detection from a bloodstain is a useful tool to identify an individual, doing so requires evidence that the bloodstain is of human origin. Stimulant drug abuse and dependence causes major social problems and crimes in Japan, and bloodstains are often found inside syringes seized from drug abusers. In this case, Hb often cannot be detected by conventional testing as high concentrations of stimulants, such as methamphetamine hydrochloride (MA), in blood trigger polymerization of Hb molecules, which become insoluble under non-reducing conditions and can no longer be detected by immunochromatographic detection kits. To overcome this problem, we analyzed methods to detect denatured Hb from bloodstains contaminated with MA. Reduction of polymerized Hb with a strong denaturing agent was required to solubilize polymers into monomers, suggesting that Hb aggregation is caused by aberrant formation of disulfide bonds. Based on these results, we established a pretreatment method, called Fukui's Reduction and Eiken's Dilution (FRED), that enables highly sensitive detection of human Hb from bloodstains mixed with MA by reducing and refolding of denatured Hb. This powerful method can be applied to blood that has been boiled or has otherwise deteriorated for over 20 years.

Development of Rous sarcoma Virus-like Particles Displaying hCC49 scFv for Specific Targeted Drug Delivery to Human Colon Carcinoma Cells.

PURPOSE: Virus-like particles (VLPs) have been used as drug carriers for drug delivery systems. In this study, hCC49 single chain fragment variable (scFv)-displaying Rous sarcoma virus-like particles (RSV VLPs) were produced in silkworm larvae to be a specific carrier of an anti-cancer drug. METHOD: RSV VLPs displaying hCC49 scFv were created by the fusion of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of hemagglutinin from influenza A (H1N1) virus and produced in silkworm larvae. The display of hCC49 scFv on the surface of RSV VLPs was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72), fluorescent microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or doxorubicin (DOX) was incorporated into hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs by electroporation and specific targeting of these VLPs was investigated by fluorescent microscopy and cytotoxicity assay using LS174T cells. RESULTS: FITC was delivered to LS174T human colon adenocarcinoma cells by hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs, but not by RSV VLPs. This indicated that hCC49 scFv allowed FITC-loaded RSV VLPs to be delivered to LS174T cells. DOX, which is an anti-cancer drug with intrinsic red fluorescence, was also loaded into hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs by electroporation; the DOX-loaded hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs killed LS174T cells via the specific delivery of DOX that was mediated by hCC49 scFv. HEK293 cells were alive even though in the presence of DOX-loaded hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs. CONCLUSION: These results showed that hCC49 scFv-displaying RSV VLPs from silkworm larvae offered specific drug delivery to colon carcinoma cells in vitro. This scFv-displaying enveloped VLP system could be applied to drug and gene delivery to other target cells.

A model for targeting colon carcinoma cells using single-chain variable fragments anchored on virus-like particles via glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor.

PURPOSE: VLPs displaying tumor targeting single-chain variable fragments (VLP-rscFvs) which targets tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72) marker protein have a potential for immunotherapy against colon carcinoma tumors. In this study, scFvs anchored on VLPs using glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) were prepared to target colon carcinoma spheroids in vitro. METHODS: VLPs-rscFvs were produced by co-injecting two types of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) bacmids, encoding RSV-gag and rscFvs cDNA into silkworm larvae. Large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of 100 nm in diameter were made using 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) and packaged with Sulforhodamine B (SRB). LUV-SRB was used to associate with VLP-rscFvs assisted by GP64 present on VLP-rscFvs to produce VLP-rscFv associated SRB (VLP-rscFvs-SRB) at pH 7.5. RESULTS: The antigenicity of the purified VLPs-rScFvs was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using TAG-72 as antigen. LUV-SRB made of DOPC was used to associate with 100 µg of VLP-rscFvs to produce VLP-rscFv-SRB. Specific delivery and penetration of SRB up to 100 µm into the spheroids shows the potential of the new model. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated the display, expression and purification of VLP-rscFvs efficiently. As a test model VLP-rscFv-SRB were prepared which can be used for immunotherapy. rscFvs provide the specificity needed to target tumors and VLPs serve as carrier transporting the dye to target.

Quantum dots incorporated magnetic nanoparticles for imaging colon carcinoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Engineered multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) have made a tremendous impact on the biomedical sciences, with advances in imaging, sensing and bioseparation. In particular, the combination of optical and magnetic responses through a single particle system allows us to serve as novel multimodal molecular imaging contrast agents in clinical settings. Despite of essential medical imaging modalities and of significant clinical application, only few nanocomposites have been developed with dual imaging contrast. A new method for preparing quantum dots (QDs) incorporated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) based on layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly techniques have developed and used for cancer cells imaging. METHODS: Here, citrate - capped negatively charged Fe3O4 NPs were prepared and coated with positively - charged hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Then, thiol - capped negatively charged CdTe QDs were electrostatically bound with CTAB. Morphological, optical and magnetic properties of the fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) were characterized. Prepared FMNPs were additionally conjugated with hCC49 antibodies fragment antigen binding (Fab) having binding affinity to sialylated sugar chain of TAG-72 region of LS174T cancer cells, which was prepared silkworm expression system, and then were used for imaging colon carcinoma cells. RESULTS: The prepared nanocomposites were magnetically responsive and fluorescent, simultaneously that are useful for efficient cellular imaging, optical sensing and magnetic separation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) revealed that the particle size is around 50 nm in diameter with inner magnetic core and outer CdTe QDs core-shell structure. Cytotoxicity test of prepared FMNPs indicates high viability in Vero cells. NPs conjugated with anti cancer antibodies were successfully labeled on colon carcinoma cells (LS174) in vitro and showed significant specificity to target cells. CONCLUSION: The present report demonstrates a simple synthesis of CdTe QDs-Fe3O4 NPs. The surface of the prepared FMNPs was enabled simple conjugation to monoclonal antibodies by electrostatic interaction. This property further extended their in vitro applications as cellular imaging contrast agents. Such labeling of cells with new fluorescent-magneto nanoprobes for living detection is of interest to various biomedical applications and has demonstrated the potential for future medical use.