Protein Encapsulation: A Nanocarrier Approach to the Fluorescence Imaging of an Enzyme-Based Biomarker

Zhiyuan Jia; Hai-Hao Han; Adam C. Sedgwick; George T. Williams; Lauren Gwynne; James T. Brewster; Steven D. Bull; A. Toby A. Jenkins; Xiao-Peng He; Holger Schönherr; Jonathan L. Sessler; Tony D. James

doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.00389

Frontiers in Chemistry (Jun 2020)

Protein Encapsulation: A Nanocarrier Approach to the Fluorescence Imaging of an Enzyme-Based Biomarker

Zhiyuan Jia,
Hai-Hao Han,
Adam C. Sedgwick,
George T. Williams,
Lauren Gwynne,
James T. Brewster,
Steven D. Bull,
A. Toby A. Jenkins,
Xiao-Peng He,
Holger Schönherr,
Jonathan L. Sessler,
Tony D. James

Affiliations

Zhiyuan Jia: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Physical Chemistry & Research Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and Engineering (Cμ), University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
Hai-Hao Han: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Adam C. Sedgwick: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
George T. Williams: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
Lauren Gwynne: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
James T. Brewster: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
Steven D. Bull: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
A. Toby A. Jenkins: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
Xiao-Peng He: Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
Holger Schönherr: Department of Chemistry and Biology, Physical Chemistry & Research Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and Engineering (Cμ), University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
Jonathan L. Sessler: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
Tony D. James: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.00389
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8

Abstract

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Here, we report a new pentafluoropropanamido rhodamine fluorescent probe (ACS-HNE) that allows for the selective detection of neutrophil elastase (NE). ACS-HNE displayed high sensitivity, with a low limit of detection (<5.3 nM), and excellent selectivity toward elastase over other relevant biological analytes and enzymes. The comparatively poor solubility and cell permeability of neat ACS-HNE was improved by creating an ACS-HNE-albumin complex; this approach allowed for improvements in the in situ visualization of elastase activity in RAW 264.7 cells relative to ACS-HNE alone. The present study thus serves to demonstrate a simple universal strategy that may be used to overcome cell impermeability and solubility limitations, and to prepare probes suitable for the cellular imaging of enzymatic activity in vitro.

Published in Frontiers in Chemistry

ISSN: 2296-2646 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/chemistry

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