RESUMEN
In response to adverse environmental factors, Escherichia coli cells actively produce Dps proteins which form ordered complexes (biocrystals) with bacterial DNA to protect the genome. The effect of biocrystallization has been described extensively in the scientific literature; furthermore, to date, the structure of the Dps-DNA complex has been established in detail in vitro using plasmid DNA. In the present work, for the first time, Dps complexes with E. coli genomic DNA were studied in vitro using cryo-electron tomography. We demonstrate that genomic DNA forms one-dimensional crystals or filament-like assemblies which transform into weakly ordered complexes with triclinic unit cells, similar to what is observed for plasmid DNA. Changing such environmental factors as pH and KCl and MgCl2 concentrations leads to the formation of cylindrical structures.
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Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/metabolismo , ADN/química , ADN Bacteriano/metabolismo , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genéticaRESUMEN
Dps (DNA-binding protein from starved cells) is well known for the structural protection of bacterial DNA by the formation of highly ordered intracellular assemblies under stress conditions. Moreover, this ferritin-like protein can perform fast oxidation of ferrous ions and subsequently accumulate clusters of ferric ions in its nanocages, thus providing the bacterium with physical and chemical protection. Here, cryo-electron microscopy was used to study the accumulation of iron ions in the nanocage of a Dps protein from Escherichia coli. We demonstrate that Fe2+ concentration in the solution and incubation time have an insignificant effect on the volume and the morphology of iron minerals formed in Dps nanocages. However, an increase in the Fe2+ level leads to an increase in the proportion of larger clusters and the clusters themselves are composed of discrete ~1-1.5 nm subunits.
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Proteínas de Escherichia coli , Ferritinas , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Ferritinas/metabolismo , Iones/metabolismo , Hierro/metabolismoRESUMEN
The maintenance of intracellular nitrogen-fixing bacteria causes changes in proteins' location and in gene expression that may be detrimental to the host cell fitness. We hypothesized that the nodule's high vulnerability toward salt stress might be due to alterations in mechanisms involved in the exclusion of Na+ from the host cytoplasm. Confocal and electron microscopy immunolocalization analyses of Na+/K+ exchangers in the root nodule showed the plasma membrane (MtNHX7) and endosome/tonoplast (MtNHX6) signal in non-infected cells; however, in mature infected cells the proteins were depleted from their target membranes and expelled to vacuoles. This mistargeting suggests partial loss of the exchanger's functionality in these cells. In the mature part of the nodule 7 of the 20 genes encoding ion transporters, channels, and Na+/K+ exchangers were either not expressed or substantially downregulated. In nodules from plants subjected to salt treatments, low temperature-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis revealed the accumulation of 5-6 times more Na+ per infected cell versus non-infected one. Hence, the infected cells' inability to withstand the salt may be the integral result of preexisting defects in the localization of proteins involved in Na+ exclusion and the reduced expression of key genes of ion homeostasis, resulting in premature senescence and termination of symbiosis.
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Medicago truncatula , Adaptación Psicológica , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Medicago truncatula/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Nódulos de las Raíces de las Plantas/metabolismo , Estrés Salino , Sodio/metabolismo , SimbiosisRESUMEN
Two independent, complementary methods of structural analysis were used to elucidate the effect of divalent magnesium and iron cations on the structure of the protective Dps-DNA complex. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) demonstrate that Mg2+ ions block the N-terminals of the Dps protein preventing its interaction with DNA. Non-interacting macromolecules of Dps and DNA remain in the solution in this case. The subsequent addition of the chelating agent (EDTA) leads to a complete restoration of the structure of the complex. Different effect was observed when Fe cations were added to the Dps-DNA complex; the presence of Fe2+ in solution leads to the total complex destruction and aggregation without possibility of the complex restoration with the chelating agent. Here, we discuss these different responses of the Dps-DNA complex on the presence of additional free metal cations, investigating the structure of the Dps protein with and without cations using SAXS and cryo-EM. Additionally, the single particle analysis of Dps with accumulated iron performed by cryo-EM shows localization of iron nanoparticles inside the Dps cavity next to the acidic (hydrophobic) pore, near three glutamate residues.
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Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/ultraestructura , ADN/ultraestructura , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/ultraestructura , Hierro/química , Magnesio/química , Secuencia de Aminoácidos/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/química , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Cationes/química , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , ADN/química , ADN/genética , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/química , Proteínas de Unión al ADN/ultraestructura , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/química , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Dispersión del Ángulo Pequeño , Difracción de Rayos XRESUMEN
The existence of a complete oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) supercomplex including both electron transport system and ATP synthases has long been assumed based on functional evidence. However, no structural confirmation of the docking between ATP synthase and proton pumps has been obtained. In this study, cryo-electron tomography was used to reveal the supramolecular architecture of the rat heart mitochondria cristae during ATP synthesis. Respirasome and ATP synthase structure in situ were determined using subtomogram averaging. The obtained reconstructions of the inner mitochondrial membrane demonstrated that rows of respiratory chain supercomplexes can dock with rows of ATP synthases forming oligomeric ordered clusters. These ordered clusters indicate a new type of OXPHOS structural organization. It should ensure the quickness, efficiency, and damage resistance of OXPHOS, providing a direct proton transfer from pumps to ATP synthase along the lateral pH gradient without energy dissipation.
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Mitocondrias Cardíacas/metabolismo , Membranas Mitocondriales/metabolismo , ATPasas de Translocación de Protón Mitocondriales/metabolismo , Bombas de Protones/metabolismo , Animales , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Transporte de Electrón , Mitocondrias Cardíacas/ultraestructura , Membranas Mitocondriales/ultraestructura , ATPasas de Translocación de Protón Mitocondriales/ultraestructura , Fosforilación Oxidativa , Conformación Proteica , Bombas de Protones/ultraestructura , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, contain proteins that mirror the molecular landscape of producer cells. Being potentially detectible in biological fluids, EVs are of great interest for the screening of cancer biomarkers. To reveal universal, tissue-specific, and line-specific markers, we performed label-free mass spectrometric profiling of EVs originating from the human colon cancer cell lines Caco-2, HT29, and HCT-116, as well as from the lung cancer cell lines NCI-H23 and A549. A total of 651 proteins was identified in the EV samples using at least two peptides. These proteins were highly enriched in exosome markers. We found 11 universal, eight tissue-specific, and 29 line-specific markers, the levels of which were increased in EVs compared to the whole lysates. The EV proteins were involved in the EGFR, Rap1, integrin, and microRNA signaling associated with metastasis and cancer progression. An EV protein-based assay could be developed as a liquid biopsy tool.
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Adenocarcinoma/metabolismo , Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Neoplasias Colorrectales/metabolismo , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Humanos , ProteómicaRESUMEN
Exosomes are crucial players in cell-to-cell communication and are involved in tumorigenesis. There are two fractions of blood circulating exosomes: free and cell-surface-associated. Here, we compared the effect of total blood exosomes (contain plasma exosomes and blood cell-surface-associated exosomes) and plasma exosomes from breast cancer patients (BCPs, n = 43) and healthy females (HFs, n = 35) on crucial steps of tumor progression. Exosomes were isolated by ultrafiltration, followed by ultracentrifugation, and characterized by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), nanoparticle tracking analysis, and flow cytometry. Cryo-EM revealed a wider spectrum of exosome morphology with lipid bilayers and vesicular internal structures in the HF total blood in comparison with plasma. No differences in the morphology of both exosomes fractions were detected in BCP blood. The plasma exosomes and total blood exosomes of BCPs had different expression levels of tumor-associated miR-92a and miR-25-3p, induced angiogenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and increased the number of migrating pseudo-normal breast cells and the total migration path length of cancer cells. The multidirectional effects of HF total blood exosomes on tumor dissemination were revealed; they suppress the angiogenesis and total migration path length of MCF10A, but stimulate EMT and increase the number of migrating MCF10A and the total path length of SKBR3 cells. In addition, HF plasma exosomes enhance the metastasis-promoting properties of SKBR3 cells and stimulate angiogenesis. Both cell-free and blood cell-surface-associated exosomes are involved in the crucial stages of carcinogenesis: the initiation of EMT and the stimulation of proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Thus, for the estimation of the diagnostic/prognostic significance of circulating exosomes in the blood of cancer patients more correctly, the total blood exosomes, which consist of plasma exosomes and blood cell-surface-associated exosomes should be used.
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Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Neoplasias de la Mama/sangre , Exosomas/genética , MicroARNs/genética , Adulto , Anciano , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Mama/metabolismo , Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Carcinogénesis/genética , Movimiento Celular/genética , Proliferación Celular/genética , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Transición Epitelial-Mesenquimal/genética , Exosomas/patología , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/genética , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , PronósticoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The interaction between malignant cells and surrounding healthy tissues is a critical factor in the metastatic progression of breast cancer (BC). Extracellular vesicles, especially exosomes, are known to be involved in inter-cellular communication during cancer progression. In the study presented herein, we aimed to evaluate the role of circulating plasma exosomes in the metastatic dissemination of BC and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. METHODS: Exosomes isolated from plasma of healthy female donors were applied in various concentrations into the medium of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines. Motility and invasive properties of BC cells were examined by random migration and Transwell invasion assays, and the effect of plasma exosomes on the metastatic dissemination of BC cells was demonstrated in an in vivo zebrafish model. To reveal the molecular mechanism of interaction between plasma exosomes and BC cells, a comparison between un-treated and enzymatically modified exosomes was performed, followed by mass spectrometry, gene ontology, and pathway analysis. RESULTS: Plasma exosomes stimulated the adhesive properties, two-dimensional random migration, and transwell invasion of BC cells in vitro as well as their in vivo metastatic dissemination in a dose-dependent manner. This stimulatory effect was mediated by interactions of surface exosome proteins with BC cells and consequent activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling in the tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma exosomes have a potency to stimulate the metastasis-promoting properties of BC cells. This pro-metastatic property of normal plasma exosomes may have impact on the course of the disease and on its prognosis.
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Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Exosomas/patología , Quinasa 1 de Adhesión Focal/metabolismo , Invasividad Neoplásica/patología , Animales , Neoplasias de la Mama/enzimología , Movimiento Celular/fisiología , Exosomas/metabolismo , Femenino , Xenoinjertos , Humanos , Células MCF-7 , Transducción de Señal/fisiología , Pez CebraRESUMEN
We have designed sensors based on Ag nanoparticles synthesized in situ on the vaterite beads. In this article we demonstrate an approach to produce size controllable spherical and elliptical vaterite particles and discuss time-dependent in situ Ag nanoparticles synthesis and its potential effect on surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The time dependent silver reduction synthesis in inorganic porous particles allows to regulate the number and size of Ag nanoparticles. It is shown that the irregular surface and high porosity of vaterite particles and large amount (surface filling factor) of the Ag nanoparticles are the critical parameters to increase the SERS signal to 104 times. Such inorganic composites have a huge potential in medical applications; soon they provide an opportunity to study intracellular processes in vivo. The detailed characterization of the microstructure of these composites was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, including 3D visualization and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis.
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The effect of the hydrophobic block length in diblock (PLLA x- b-PEO113, x = 64, 166, 418) and triblock (PLLA y- b-PEO91- b-PLLA y, y = 30, 52, 120) copolymers of l-lactic acid and ethylene oxide on the structure of micelles prepared by dialysis was studied by wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering in dilute aqueous solution, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and force spectroscopy. It was found that the size of the crystalline PLLA core is weakly dependent on the PLLA block length. In addition to individual micelles, a number of their micellar clusters were detected with characteristic distance between adjacent micelle cores decreasing with an increase in PLLA block length. This effect was explained by the change in the conformation of PEO chains forming the micellar corona because of their overcrowding. Force spectroscopy experiments also reveal a more stretched conformation of the PEO chains for the block copolymers with a shorter PLLA block. A model describing the structure of the individual micelles and their clusters was proposed.
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In the present study, cryo-electron tomography was used to investigate the localization of 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes (OADCs) in cardiac mitochondria and mitochondrial inner membrane samples. Two classes of ordered OADC inner cores with different symmetries were distinguished and their quaternary structures modeled. One class corresponds to pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes and the other to dehydrogenase complexes of α-ketoglutarate and branched-chain α-ketoacids. OADCs were shown to be localized in close proximity to membrane-embedded respirasomes, as observed both in densely packed lamellar cristae of cardiac mitochondria and in ruptured mitochondrial samples where the dense packing is absent. This suggests the specificity of the OADC-respirasome interaction, which allows localized NADH/NAD+ exchange between OADCs and complex I of the respiratory chain. The importance of this local coupling is based on OADCs being the link between respiration, glycolysis and amino acid metabolism. The coupling of these basic metabolic processes can vary in different tissues and conditions and may be involved in the development of various pathologies. The present study shows that this important and previously missing parameter of mitochondrial complex coupling can be successfully assessed using cryo-electron tomography.
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Cetoácidos , Complejo Piruvato Deshidrogenasa , 3-Metil-2-Oxobutanoato Deshidrogenasa (Lipoamida) , Complejo Piruvato Deshidrogenasa/metabolismo , Mitocondrias Cardíacas/metabolismo , Ácidos Cetoglutáricos , Complejo Cetoglutarato Deshidrogenasa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane vesicles which play an important role in cell-to-cell communication and physiology. EVs deliver biological information from producing to recipient cells by transport of different cargo such as proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, non-coding RNAs and lipids. Adipose tissue EVs could regulate metabolic and inflammatory interactions inside adipose tissue depots as well as distal tissues. Thus, adipose tissue EVs are assumed to be implicated in obesity-associated pathologies, notably in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study we for the first time characterize EVs secreted by visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of patients with obesity and T2DM with standard methods as well as analyze their morphology with cryo-electron microscopy. Cryo-electron microscopy allowed us to visualize heterogeneous population of EVs of various size and morphology including single EVs and EVs with internal membrane structures in samples from obese patients as well from the control group. Single vesicles prevailed (up to 85% for SAT, up to 75% for VAT) and higher proportion of EVs with internal membrane structures compared to SAT was typical for VAT. Decreased size of single and double SAT EVs compared to VAT EVs, large proportion of multilayered EVs and all EVs with internal membrane structures secreted by VAT distinguished obese patients with/without T2DM from the control group. These findings could support the idea of modified biogenesis of EVs during obesity and T2DM.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Vesículas Extracelulares , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patología , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Grasa Intraabdominal/metabolismo , Tejido Adiposo/metabolismo , Obesidad/metabolismo , Grasa Subcutánea/metabolismo , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To date, EVs characterization techniques are extremely diverse. The contribution of AFM, in particular, is often confined to size distribution. While AFM provides a unique possibility to carry out measurements in situ, nanomechanical characterization of EVs is still missing. METHODS: Blood plasma EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation, analyzed by flow cytometry and NTA. Followed by cryo-EM, we applied PeakForce AFM to assess morphological and nanomechanical properties of EVs in liquid. RESULTS: Nanoparticles were subdivided by their size estimated for their suspended state into sub-sets of small S1-EVs (< 30 nm), S2-EVs (30-50 nm), and sub-set of large ones L-EVs (50-170 nm). Non-membranous S1-EVs were distinguished by higher Young's modulus (10.33(7.36;15.25) MPa) and were less deformed by AFM tip (3.6(2.8;4.4) nm) compared to membrane exosomes S2-EVs (6.25(4.52;8.24) MPa and 4.8(4.3;5.9) nm). L-EVs were identified as large membrane exosomes, heterogeneous by their nanomechanical properties (22.43(8.26;53.11) MPa and 3.57(2.07;7.89) nm). Nanomechanical mapping revealed a few non-deformed L-EVs, of which Young's modulus rose up to 300 MPa. Taken together with cryo-EM, these results lead us to the suggestion that two or more vesicles could be contained inside a large one being a multilayer vesicle. CONCLUSIONS: We identified particles similar in morphology and showed differences in nanomechanical properties that could be attributed to the features of their inner structure. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our results further elucidate the identification of EVs and concomitant nanoparticles based on their nanomechanical properties.
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Exosomas , Nanopartículas , Módulo de Elasticidad , Microscopía de Fuerza Atómica , PlasmaRESUMEN
The 3D reconstruction of 100 µm- and 600 µm-thick fibrous poly-L/L-lactide scaffolds was performed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and supported by scanning electron microscopy and showed that the density of the fibers on the side adjacent to the electrode is higher, which can affect cell diffusion, while the pore size is generally the same. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured in a 600 µm-thick scaffold formed colonies and produced conditions for cell differentiation. An in vitro study of stem cells after 7 days revealed that cell proliferation and hepatocyte growth factor release in the 600 µm-thick scaffold were higher than in the 100 µm-thick scaffold. An in vivo study of scaffolds with and without stem cells implanted subcutaneously onto the backs of recipient mice was carried out to test their biodegradation and biocompatibility over a 0-3-week period. The cells seeded onto the 600 µm-thick scaffold promoted significant neovascularization in vivo. After 3 weeks, a significant number of donor cells persisted only on the inside of the 600 µm-thick scaffold. Thus, the use of bulkier matrices allows to prolong the effect of secretion of growth factors by stem cells during implantation. These 600 µm-thick scaffolds could potentially be utilized to repair and regenerate injuries with stem cell co-culture for vascularization of implant.
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Protein nanoparticles (NPs) can be used as vaccine platforms for target antigen presentation. Aim: To conduct a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate that an effective NP platform can be built based on a short self-assembling peptide (SAP) rather than a large self-assembling protein. Materials & methods: SUMO-based protein fusions (SFs) containing an N-terminal SAP and a C-terminal antigen were designed, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The structure was investigated by electron microscopy. The antibody response was tested in mice after two adjuvant-free immunizations. Results: Renatured SFs form fiber-like NPs with the antigen exposed on the surface and induce a significant antibody response with a remarkably high target-to-platform ratio. Conclusion: The platform is effective and has considerable potential for modification toward various applications, including vaccine development.
We aimed to extend the arsenal of protein platforms used for vaccine development. To this end, in this proof-of-concept study we constructed new self-assembling fusion proteins consisting of three modules. Module 1 is responsible for the self-assembly, while modules 2 and 3 are responsible for the immune response. Modules 1 and 2 form the platform, while module 3 represents the target antigen exposed on the surface of the self-assembled nanoparticles. After conventional biosynthesis in Escherichia coli, the proteins undergo efficient self-assembly during purification, and the resulting nanoparticles elicit a strong immune response without using an enhancing agent (adjuvant). The simple modular design and a high target-to-platform ratio of the immune response make our system a promising approach for practical applications, including vaccine development.
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Nanopartículas , Vacunas , Adyuvantes Inmunológicos , Animales , Presentación de Antígeno , Ratones , Nanopartículas/química , PéptidosRESUMEN
Capsules with shells based on nanoparticles of different nature co-assembled at the interface of liquid phases of emulsion are promising carriers of lipophilic drugs. To obtain such capsules, theoretically using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory and experimentally using dynamic light-scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods, the interaction of like-charged silica nanoparticles and detonation nanodiamonds in an aqueous solution was studied and their ratios selected for the formation of submicron-sized colloidosomes. The resulting colloidosomes were modified with additional layers of nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes, applying LbL technology. As a model anti-cancer drug, thymoquinone was loaded into the developed capsules, demonstrating a significant delay of the release as a result of colloidosome surface modification. Fluorescence flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed efficient internalization of the capsules by MCF7 cancer cells. The obtained results demonstrated a high potential for nanomedicine application in the field of the drug-delivery system development.
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Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of α7 type (α7-nAChR) presented in the nervous and immune systems and epithelium is a promising therapeutic target for cognitive disfunctions and cancer treatment. Weak toxin from Naja kaouthia venom (WTX) is a non-conventional three-finger neurotoxin, targeting α7-nAChR with weak affinity. There are no data on interaction mode of non-conventional neurotoxins with nAChRs. Using α-bungarotoxin (classical three-finger neurotoxin with high affinity to α7-nAChR), we showed applicability of cryo-EM to study complexes of α7-nAChR extracellular ligand-binding domain (α7-ECD) with toxins. Using cryo-EM structure of the α7-ECD/WTX complex, together with NMR data on membrane active site in the WTX molecule and mutagenesis data, we reconstruct the structure of α7-nAChR/WTX complex in the membrane environment. WTX interacts at the entrance to the orthosteric site located at the receptor intersubunit interface and simultaneously forms the contacts with the membrane surface. WTX interaction mode with α7-nAChR significantly differs from α-bungarotoxin's one, which does not contact the membrane. Our study reveals the important role of the membrane for interaction of non-conventional neurotoxins with the nicotinic receptors.
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Receptores Nicotínicos , Receptores Nicotínicos/genética , Toxinas de los Tres Dedos , Bungarotoxinas , Neurotoxinas/toxicidadRESUMEN
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) gain more and more attention as promising carriers of exogenous bioactive molecules to the human cells. Derived from various edible sources, these EVs are remarkably biocompatible, biodegradable and highly abundant from plants. In this work, EVs from grapefruit juice were isolated by differential centrifugation followed by characterization of their size, quantity and morphology by nanoparticle tracking analysis, dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM). In Cryo-EM experiments, we visualized grapefruit EVs with the average size of 41 ± 13 nm, confirmed their round-shaped morphology and estimated the thickness of their lipid bilayer as 5.3 ± 0.8 nm. Further, using cell culture models, we have successfully demonstrated that native grapefruit-derived extracellular vesicles (GF-EVs) are highly efficient carriers for the delivery of the exogenous Alexa Fluor 647 labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) into both human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and colon cancer cells. Interestingly, loading to plant EVs significantly ameliorated the uptake of exogenous proteins by human cells compared to the same proteins without EVs. Most importantly, we have confirmed the functional activity of human recombinant HSP70 in the colon cancer cell culture upon delivery by GF-EVs. Analysis of the biodistribution of GF-EVs loaded with 125I-labeled BSA in mice demonstrated a significant uptake of the grapefruit-derived extracellular vesicles by the majority of organs. The results of our study indicate that native plant EVs might be safe and effective carriers of exogenous proteins into human cells.
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Citrus paradisi/química , Vesículas Extracelulares/química , Nanocápsulas/química , Células Cultivadas , Vesículas Extracelulares/ultraestructura , Células HCT116 , Proteínas HSP70 de Choque Térmico/administración & dosificación , Humanos , Leucocitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Nanocápsulas/ultraestructura , Albúmina Sérica Bovina/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
Rapidly growing 3D printing of hydrogels requires network materials which combine enhanced mechanical properties and printability. One of the most promising approaches to strengthen the hydrogels consists of the incorporation of inorganic fillers. In this paper, the rheological properties important for 3D printability were studied for nanocomposite hydrogels based on a rigid network of percolating halloysite nanotubes embedded in a soft alginate network cross-linked by calcium ions. Particular attention was paid to the effect of polymer cross-linking on these properties. It was revealed that the system possessed a pronounced shear-thinning behavior accompanied by a viscosity drop of 4-5 orders of magnitude. The polymer cross-links enhanced the shear-thinning properties and accelerated the viscosity recovery at rest so that the system could regain 96% of viscosity in only 18 s. Increasing the cross-linking of the soft network also enhanced the storage modulus of the nanocomposite system by up to 2 kPa. Through SAXS data, it was shown that at cross-linking, the junction zones consisting of fragments of two laterally aligned polymer chains were formed, which should have provided additional strength to the hydrogel. At the same time, the cross-linking of the soft network only slightly affected the yield stress, which seemed to be mainly determined by the rigid percolation network of nanotubes and reached 327 Pa. These properties make the alginate/halloysite hydrogels very promising for 3D printing, in particular, for biomedical purposes taking into account the natural origin, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility of both components.
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There has been growing interest in recent years in developing multifunctional materials for studying the structure interface in biological systems. In this regard, the multimodal systems, which possess activity in the near-infrared (NIR) region, become even more critical for the possibility of improving examined biotissue depth and, eventually, data analysis. Herein, we engineered bi-modal contrast agents by integrating carbon nanotubes (CNT) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) around silica microspheres using the Layer-by-Layer self-assembly method. The experimental studies revealed that microspheres with CNT sandwiched between AuNP exhibit strong absorption in the visible and NIR regions and high optoacoustic contrast (OA, also called photoacoustics) and Raman scattering when illuminated with 532 nm and 785 nm lasers, respectively. The developed microspheres demonstrated amplification of the signal in the OA flow cytometry at the laser wavelength of 1064 nm. This finding was further validated with ex vivo brain tissue using a portable Raman spectrometer and imaging with the Raster-scanning OA mesoscopy technique. The obtained data suggest that the developed contrast agents can be promising in applications of localization OA tomography (LOT), OA flow cytometry, and multiplex SERS detection.