Polymeric micelle-based bioassay with femtomolar sensitivity

Abstract

Target specific polymeric micelles loaded with fluorescence dye molecules in their hydrophobic cores were made from block co-polymer of poly(carprolactones) 23 -b-poly(ethylene oxide) 45 (PCL23-b-PEO45). It was found that the micelles are stable against pH changes from 2 to 12 and temperature variation up to 65 °C. The dye molecules can be released to the solution upon exposing the micelles to organic solvents or ultrasound. A rapid and highly sensitive immunoassay based on the above micelles was developed, and the assay can detect specific target proteins in femtomolar range from complex biological samples such as serum mimics and cell lysate. For example, less than 0.15 unit/ml of ovarian cancer specific antigen 125 (CA125), equivalent to 7.5 × 10 -15 M, can be reliably detected in solution. We also demonstrated the assay can detect a cell surface biomarker (SAAE-4) from a single human embryonic stem (hES) cell.

Synthesis and characterization of an amphiphilic hyperbranched poly(amine‐ester)‐co‐D,L‐lactide (HPAE‐co‐PLA) copolymers and their nanoparticles for protein drug delivery

“…HPAE-OHs4 was put into a glass ampoule with predetermined amounts of D,L-lactide. (Sn(Oct) 2 ) was added at about 0.1 (w/w) %. The ampoule was evacuated by a vacuum pump at 30 C for 1 h and then sealed.…”

“…Polymeric micelles are conjugated or interacted with a therapeutic agent of interest within their polymeric matrix or onto the surface, and the NPs were easily adsorbed by protein and phagocytosed by cells of the reticuloeddothelial system (RES). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Polymeric micelles present numerous advantages, such as reduced side effects of anticancer drugs and selective targeting, it also allows for controlling the release pattern of drug and sustaining drug levels for a long time by appropriately selecting the polymeric carrier.…”

“…ABSTRACT: A series of hyperbranched poly(amineester)-co-D,L-lactide (HPAE-co-PLA) copolymer were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide with Sn(Oct) 2 as catalyst to a fourth generation branched poly(amine-ester) (HPAE-OHs4). The chemical structures of copolymers were determined by FTIR, 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and TGA.…”

Applications of micelle enhancement in luminescence‐based analysis

“…A rapid and highly sensitive immunoassay detection based on polymeric micelles loaded with fluorescence dye molecules was developed by Mouffouk et al . to detect and assay specific target proteins in the femtomolar range from biological samples; the method was used to detect cell‐surface biomarkers.…”

Approach to Formation of Multifunctional Polyester Particles in Controlled Nanoscopic Dimensions

“…Degradable aliphatic polyester materials, such as poly( l -lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL), and their copolymers, have received considerable attention in the medical and pharmaceutical fields, finding applications as drug delivery systems, implant materials, and diagnostic systems . In many of these applications, in particular for drug delivery purposes, the polyester materials are administered in the form of nanoparticles, as they are able to cross physiological epithelial barriers and give means to controlled release profiles.…”