Issue 4, 2020

Protein encapsulation: a new approach for improving the capability of small-molecule fluorogenic probes

Abstract

Herein, we report a protein-based hybridization strategy that exploits the host-guest chemistry of HSA (human serum albumin) to solubilize the otherwise cell impermeable ONOO fluorescent probe Pinkment-OAc. Formation of a HSA/Pinkment-OAc supramolecular hybrid was confirmed by SAXS and solution-state analyses. This HSA/Pinkment-OAc hybrid provided an enhanced fluorescence response towards ONOOversusPinkment-OAc alone, as determined by in vitro experiments. The HSA/Pinkment-OAc hybrid was also evaluated in RAW 264.7 macrophages and HeLa cancer cell lines, which displayed an enhanced cell permeability enabling the detection of SIN-1 and LPS generated ONOO and the in vivo imaging of acute inflammation in LPS-treated mice. A remarkable 5.6 fold (RAW 264.7), 8.7-fold (HeLa) and 2.7-fold increased response was seen relative to Pinkment-OAc alone at the cellular level and in vivo, respectively. We anticipate that HSA/fluorescent probe hybrids will soon become ubiquitous and routinely applied to overcome solubility issues associated with hydrophobic fluorescent imaging agents designed to detect disease related biomarkers.

Graphical abstract: Protein encapsulation: a new approach for improving the capability of small-molecule fluorogenic probes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
08 août 2019
Accepted
26 nov. 2019
First published
27 nov. 2019
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2020,11, 1107-1113

Protein encapsulation: a new approach for improving the capability of small-molecule fluorogenic probes

H. Han, A. C. Sedgwick, Y. Shang, N. Li, T. Liu, B. Li, K. Yu, Y. Zang, J. T. Brewster, M. L. Odyniec, M. Weber, S. D. Bull, J. Li, J. L. Sessler, T. D. James, X. He and H. Tian, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 1107 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC03961A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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