The cell plasma membrane is an interactive interface playing an important role in regulating cell-to-cell, cell-to-tissue contact, and cell-to-environment responses. This environment-responsive phospholipid layer consisting of multiple dynamically balanced macromolecules, such as membrane proteins, carbohydrate and lipids, is regarded as a promising platform for various surface engineering strategies. Through different chemical modification routes, we are able to incorporate various artificial materials into the cell surface for biomedical applications in small molecule and cellular therapeutics. In this dissertation, we establish two different cell coating techniques for applications of cell-mediated drug delivery and the localization of cell-based therapies to specific tissues. The first part of this dissertation establishes a membrane-associated hydrogel patch for drug delivery. The crosslinking of a grafted polymeric patch from a mammalian cell membrane is achieved through surface-mediated photolithographic polymerization. With the use of photomask, the formation of nanoparticle-loaded PEGDA hydrogel is controlled to deposit various geometric features on photoinitiator-immobilized surfaces. Through microarray patch patterning, we analyzed the influence of processing parameters on the accuracy of polymer patterning on a microarray. We then optimized the patterning approach for the formation of PEGDA patches on live A549 cells. In the second part of this dissertation, we study the use of tissue-adhesive coatings to improve the retention of therapeutic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the heart following intramyocardial or intravenous injection. MSCs were coated with antibodies against ICAM1 to adhere to CAM-overexpressed endothelium present in the heart following MI. Through intramyocardial or intravenous delivery, we observe higher number of coated cells retained in the heart over uncoated ones, supporting enhanced affinity for the inflamed endothelium near the infarct. We correlate the detachment force of antigen-interacted MSCs by a parallel laminar flow assay with the density of ICAM on the substrate and the density of anti-ICAM on the MSC surface. MSC retention on CAMmodified surfaces or activated HUVECs was significantly increased on antibody-coated groups (~90%) under physiologically hemodynamic forces (< 30dyne/cm2), compared to uncoated MSCs (~20%). Moreover, a dramatic reduction of immune cell quantity was observed after intravenous injection, indicating the enhanced immunoregulatory efficacy by systemically delivering ICAM-adhesive MSCs to the site of inflammation.

Crystallization is often a major bottleneck to macromolecular structure determination. This is particularly true for membrane proteins, which have hydrophobic surfaces that cannot readily form crystal contacts. Of the roughly 109,000 protein structures in the PDB, only about 539 represent unique membrane proteins, despite immense interest in membrane proteins from both a biological and therapeutic standpoint. Membrane protein crystallization has been facilitated by the development of new detergents, lipidic cubic phase methods, soluble protein chimeras, and non-covalent protein complexes. The design process of protein fusion constructs and non-covalent antibody fragments specific for each target membrane protein, however, is costly and time-consuming. An improved, more general method of membrane protein co-crystallization is needed. This dissertation details the development of two approaches for cost-effective non-covalent crystallization chaperones: (1) Engineered hypercrystallizable Fab antibody fragment with high affinity for EYMPME (EE epitope), which form complexes with EE-tagged soluble and membrane proteins. (2) Engineered monomeric streptavidin (mSA2) for complexation with biotinylated membrane proteins. Both methods are generalizable through insertion of a short epitope into a surface-exposed loop of a membrane protein by site directed mutagenesis. Crystallization trials of representative chaperone-membrane protein complexes and possible difficulties with the approach are discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:51:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 800491 bytes, checksum: 274cc18672a32ed45926e416e0de5305 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-15 / The homologue recombination in Kluyveromyces lactis is not the preferential way used as repair mechanism of DNA double strand, desirable in proteins expression construction dependent on gene-specific integration. In order to obtain K. lactis strains to recombinant protein expression efficient in homologue recombination way, KU80 gene was interrupted. The perfect running of non-homologue ends junctions (NHEJ) way depends on that gene and is responsible by exogenous DNA random integration in the host genome. KU80 gene deletion was made by Split-Marker. Two fragments were generated by PCR fusion, each one with a flanker sequence of KU80 coding region (5 and 3 ends) and part of geneticin resistance gene (KanMX). Deletion cassette resulting from in vivo recombination of two fragments had KanMX gene flanked by KU80 coding regions end sand was used for KU80 deletion by homologue recombination in the genome in two K. lactis strains, JA6 and HP108. The 3.7 Kb fragment obtained by PCR amplification with external primers to KU80 coding region confirmed deletion cassette integration in the target gene. Integration efficiency with Split-Marker resulting fragments was 100 %. pKLAC1 and pKLAC1/cStp vectors with streptavidin affinity domain by biotin were used to determine homologue recombination efficiency of KU80 (JA6&#916;KU80 and HP108&#916;KU80) mutant strains. Pectin lyase coding gene (plg1) from Penicillium griseoroseum was cloned in those vectors to evaluate the capacity of K. lactis strains to produce and secrete the recombinant protein. The transformation efficiency (transformants/&#956;g of DNA) of mutants JA6&#916;KU80 and HP108&#916;KU80 with pKLAC1/Plg1 and pKLAC1/cStp-Plg1 vectors was higher than to parental strains JA6 and HP108. Target gene integration efficiency was 100 % in most strains, except to strains JA6/Plg1and HP108&#916;KU80/Plg1 that showed an integration efficiency of 80 and 70 %, respectively. Although the high efficiency of specific-gene integration there was no pectin lyase (PL) or cStp-Plg1 secretion as expected for pKLAC1 vector. PL intracellular activity was significant when compared with parental strain HP108/Plg1, that presented specific activity of 9,525 U.mg-1 protein. / A recombinação homóloga em Kluyveromyces lactis não é a via preferencial usada como mecanismo de reparo de quebra de fita dupla de DNA, o que pode ser indesejado em construções de expressão de proteínas dependentes de integração gene-específico. Para obter linhagens de K. lactis hospedeiras para a expressão de proteínas recombinantes eficientes na via de recombinação homóloga realizou-se a mutação do gene KU80. Este gene é essencial para perfeito funcionamento da via de junções de extremidades não-homólogas (NHEJ), responsável pela integração aleatória do DNA exógeno no genoma hospedeiro. A deleção do gene KU80 foi feita utilizando a técnica Split-Marker. Dois fragmentos foram obtidos por fusão por PCR, cada um contendo uma sequência flanqueadora da região codificante do gene KU80 (extremidades 5 e 3 ) e uma parte do gene de resistência a geneticina (KanMX). O cassete de deleção resultante da recombinação in vivo dos dois fragmentos gerados continha o gene KanMX flanqueado pelas extremidades da região codificante do gene KU80, e foi utilizado para deleção do gene KU80 por recombinação homóloga no genoma de duas linhagens de K. lactis, JA6 e HP108. O fragmento de 3,7 Kb obtido por amplificação por PCR com oligonucleotídeos externos à região codificante do gene KU80 confirmou a integração do cassete de deleção no gene alvo. A eficiência de integração com os fragmentos resultantes do Split-Marker foi de 100 %. Os vetores pKLAC1, e pKLAC1/cStp contendo o domínio de afinidade da estreptavidina pela biotina, foram usados para determinar a eficiência de recombinação homóloga das linhagens mutantes KU80 (JA6&#916;KU80 e HP108&#916;KU80). O gene da pectina liase (plg1) de Penicillium griseoroseum foi clonado nesses vetores para avaliar a capacidade de linhagens de K. lactis em produzir e secretar a proteína recombinante. A eficiência de transformação (transformantes/&#956;g de DNA) dos mutantes JA6&#916;KU80 e HP108&#916;KU80 com os vetores pKLAC1/Plg1 e pKLAC1/cStp-Plg1, foi superior à das linhagens parentais JA6 e HP108. A eficiência de integração no gene alvo foi de 100% para maioria das linhagens, com exceção das linhagens JA6/Plg1e HP108&#916;KU80/Plg1 que apresentaram, respectivamente, eficiência de 80 e 70 % de integração geneespecífico. Apesar da eficiência de integração por recombinação homóloga, não houve secreção de PL e da fusão cStp-Plg1 como esperado ao se utilizar o vetor pKLAC1. A atividade intracelular de pectina liase (PL) só foi significativa em relação à parental para a cepa HP108/Plg1, que demonstrou atividade específica de 9,525 U.mg-1 proteína.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:52:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1210492 bytes, checksum: 9b50652b8d6d51ccdb4063535bd8ec12 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Streptavidin has been exploited as affinity tag to isolate protein in biotinilated columns. Recombinant Pichia pastoris KM71/Stp strains containing the streptavidin core gene were cultured in fed-batch generating 150 g L-1 biomass. This biomass was achieved with a simpler and shorter process that has never been reported. The yeast was pre-cultured into 50 mL minimum medium with glycerol as only carbon source at 25ºC and 250 rpm. After 12 hours incubation, the culture was transferred to a bioreactor with 200 mL of the same initial A600 0,2. After 24 hours incubation the culture was fed-batch with glycerol and basal salts medium to reach 400 mL. The glycerol concentration of 2.0 moles. L-1 combined with a flow of 0.11 mL. min-1 and aeration by air injection dispersed with a porous stone and magnetic stirring of 500 rpm were the set of conditions to yield maximum biomass. The streptavidin concentration at the supernatant of the free cell culture at 96 hours, the maximum induction period, has achieved 4.0 g. L-1, reducing to 3.2 and 0.87 g. L-1 with two reutilizations. At the same time period the immobilized culture yield 75 %, 50 % and 80% less at the first, second and third culture utilization, respectively. The immobilization and recycling of recombinant P. pastoris biomass can prove to be a potential strategy to improve volumetric productivity. / Com o intuito de utilizar estreptavidina como alvo para isolar proteínas de interesse numa coluna biotinilada, P. pastoris KM71 recombinante contendo o gene do core da estreptavidina, foi cultivada em regime de batelada alimentada na fase de produção de biomassa, alcançando uma concentração de 150 g L-1. Essa biomassa foi alcançada com um novo protocolo, que além de reduzir os passos, introduziu um aparato simples, mas eficiente de dispersão de ar. Um reator com capacidade para 1 L, com 200 mL de meio mínimo com glicerol, foi inoculado com uma pré-cultura para uma A600 inicial de 0,2. Após 24 horas de incubação, a 25 ºC, 500 rpm e injeção e dispersão de ar através de pedra porosa, a alimentação foi iniciada com meio de sais basais e glicerol até atingir um volume de 400 mL. A concentração de 2,0 moles L-1 de glicerol e fluxo de 0,11 mL min-1 utilizados na alimentação, permitiram obter máxima biomassa. Na fase de indução de estreptavidina, foi estudada a reutilização da biomassa na produção de estreptavidina em duas condições: livres em suspensão e imobilizadas em partículas de alginato de cálcio. Em ambos os casos a proteína produzida apresentou-se biologicamente funcional, exibindo ligação esperada à biotina. A concentração de estreptavidina no sobrenadante da cultura de células livres no período de máxima indução (96 horas) atingiu 4,0 g L-1, reduzindo para 3,2 e 0,87 g L-1 respectivamente em duas reutilizações. Quando comparada às concentrações de estreptavidina obtidas pelas células livres em cada utilização, a imobilização resultou na produção de 75% na primeira utilização, 50% na segunda, mas alcançando quase 80% na terceira utilização. A imobilização e a reutilização da biomassa de P. pastoris recombinante ainda não haviam sido reportadas e a produção de estreptavidina nessas condições demonstrou ser uma técnica em potencial.

Les nanotechnologies ADN utilisées pour l’auto-assemblage de nanoparticules d’or ou de métaux nobles ont connu un important développement au cours des vingt dernières années, permettant l’organisation de particules agencées en nano-cristaux, grâce à la spécificité biologique inégalable de deux brins complémentaires d’ADN. L’objectif de ces travaux de thèse est d’adapter ces nanotechnologies à l’assemblage de nanoparticules d’Al et de CuO en vue d’élaborer des matériaux composites énergétiques à haute performance, grâce à l’augmentation des surfaces en contact entre réducteur (Al) et oxydant (CuO) par la maîtrise de l’organisation spatiale des nanoparticules. Ainsi, la fonctionnalisation séparée des nanoparticules d’Al et de CuO dispersées en solution colloïdale par des monobrins d’ADN complémentaires assurée ici par l’utilisation du complexe biotineStreptavidine, doit amener, après mélange des deux solutions colloïdales, à l’agrégation des particules par l’hybridation des brins d’ADN greffés en surface. La stratégie de fonctionnalisation choisie ici est générique : la protéine « Streptavidine » est d’abord greffée sur la nanoparticule, puis le brin d’ADN possédant un groupe biotine à une de ses extrémités, se fixe sur la Streptavidine. Au-delà de l’organisation de la matière à l’échelle nanométrique, l’enjeu double de ces travaux tient dans l’établissement d’un protocole de fonctionnalisation fiable et reproductible, propre aux procédés de micro-électronique, pour envisager un report de ces matériaux sur puce, mais également dans le contrôle des performances énergétiques grâce à l’ADN. Nous nous sommes donc appliqués à élaborer ce protocole en caractérisant précisément chaque étape de fonctionnalisation : la stabilisation des colloïdes et la biofonctionnalisation des nanoparticules par la Streptavidine et l’ADN. De plus, l’interaction entre ADN et surfaces oxydées des particules a été étudiée de façon à identifier les interactions non-spécifiques à l’origine d’agrégations non maîtrisées et améliorer en conséquence la qualité de la fonctionnalisation. Nous avons ensuite étudié l’agrégation des particules fonctionalisées en fonction de nombreux paramètres expérimentaux telles que la longueur de la chaîne ADN, la séquence de l’oligonucléotide, ou encore la composition saline de la solution. A cause de l’existence d’interactions non-spécifiques mise en évidence, nous avons optimisés ces paramètres de façon à assurer une agrégation dirigée uniquement par l’hybridation des brins d’ADN. Les performances énergétiques des matériaux synthétisés ont enfin été caractérisées et nous avons démontré la possibilité de contrôler les performances énergétiques des nanobiocomposites synthétisant en maîtrisant leur microstructure grâce à l’ADN. / Over the two last decades, DNA technologies have intensively been studied for the organization of matter at the nanoscale. Thanks to the bio recognition of two complementary DNA single-strands and their hybridization into the famous helicoidally structure, self-assembling of gold nanoparticles into highly ordered micrometer scale crystals has been demonstrated. The aim of this thesis is to explore this new nanotechnology for the self-assembly of Al and CuO nanoparticles driven by DNA hybridization into highly energetic nanocomposites by optimizing contact surfaces between reducer (Al) and oxidizer (CuO). We chose Streptavidin-biotin strategy to functionalize nanoparticles with DNA single strands. More precisely, the functionalization process includes four steps: (i) stabilization of Al and CuO nanoparticles into separate colloidal suspensions; (ii) Streptavidin grafting on Al and CuO nanoparticles; (iii) DNA grafting on Al and CuO Streptavidin-modified nanoparticles thanks to the addition of biotin function at the end of the DNA single strands; (iv) mixing of the two colloidal DNA-functionalized suspensions in order to realize the self-assembly. First, we precisely determined, characterized and optimized each step of the functionalization process. Then, we studied more precisely two key points of the process: we analyzed the interaction of DNA bases with technologically relevant oxide surfaces by studying the grafting of Thymidine by theoretical and experimental approaches; and we studied the influence of the coding sequence used for the DNA strands on the quality of the self-assembly, also by theoretical and experimental analyses. Finally, we optimized environmental conditions to realize the self-assembly of DNAfunctionalized nanoparticles into energetic nanobiocomposites. Morphologies and energetic properties were established as a function of synthesis conditions, and the control of energetic performances of nanobiocomposites as a function of aggregation process was demonstrated.

Microcantilevers have been investigated as high sensitivity, label free biosensors for approximately 15 years. In nearly all cases, a thin gold film deposited on the microcantilevers is used as an intermediate attachment layer because of the convenience of thiol-gold chemistry. Unfortunately, this attachment chemistry can be unstable when used with complex sample media such as blood plasma. The Nordin group at BYU has recently developed an all-silicon in-plane photonic microcantilever (PMCL) technology to serve as a platform for label-free biosensing. It has the advantage of being readily scalable to simultaneous readout of many PMCLs in array format, and allows integration with polymer microfluidics to facilitate the introduction of biological samples and reagents. An essential processing step for the transformation of the PMCL into a practical biosensor is the ability to effectively immobilize active biological receptors directly on silicon PMCL surfaces such that ligand binding generates sufficient surface stress to cause measureable PMCL deflection. This dissertation presents the development of a method to functionalize the sensor surface of all-silicon in-plane photonic microcantilever (PMCL) arrays. This method employs a materials inkjet printer for non-contact jetting and a fluid that is custom designed for ink-jetting and biological applications with approximately 1 pL droplet size. The method facilitates the application of different receptors on select PMCLs with drop placement accuracy in the +/- 7.5 μm range. The functionalization fluid facilitates further processing using humidity control to achieve full coverage of only the PMCL's top surface and removal of dissolved salts to improve uniformity of receptor coverage and to prevent fouling of the sensor surface. Once a functionalization method was successfully developed, a series of experiments were performed to investigate the amount of surface stress that can be generated when receptors are immobilized directly to the silicon surface. In one series of experiments, a 4.8 μM streptavidin solution was used with biotin immobilized on multiple PMCLs to demonstrate adsorption-induced surface stress and concomitant deflection of the PMCL. The group observed ~ 15 nm PMCL deflection on average, with a corresponding surface stress of approximately 4 mN/m. These experiments yield the sensor response in real-time and employ a combination of multiple PMCLs functionalized as either sensors or unfunctionalized to serve as references. Investigation of various attachment chemistries is included, as well as a comparison with and without passivation of non-sensor surfaces. Investigated passivation strategies prevented ligand binding from generating a differential surface stress. Failure modes and physical mechanisms for adsorption-induced surface stress are discussed. Immobilization and passivation strategies for antibody-based biosensing are demonstrated with fluorescence microscopy and a corresponding PMCL sensing experiment using rabbit anti-goat F(ab') fragments as the receptors and Alex Fluor 488 labeled goat anti-rabbit IgGs as the ligand. While the results of these experiments remain inconclusive, suggestions for future research involving the PMCL sensor array are recommended.

No description available.

This master thesis deals with nanotechnology, nanoparticles and nanostructured surfaces, electrochemical methods, especially voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. One part is focused on electrodes primarily nanostructured and modified by substancies with thiol bound. Tutorial for preparation of gold nanostructured electrods is introduced in practical section including SEM photos of electrode surface. Nanostructured and bare gold electrodes were modified by 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, streptavidin, glycine and biotin and measured by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and contact angle.

No description available.

<p> </p><p>Control of protein immobilization at sensor surfaces is of great interest within various scientific fields, since it enables studies of specific biomolecular interactions. To achieve this, one must be able to immobilize proteins with retained native structure, while minimizing non-specific protein binding. The high affinity interaction between streptavidin (SA) and biotin is extensively used as a linker between a surface, where SA is immobilized, and the (biotinylated) molecule of interest. Self- assembled monolayers (SAMs) of poly- and oligo ethylene glycol (PEG and OEG) derivatives have been proven in literature to minimize non-specific protein binding, and biotin-exposing SAMs have been shown efficient for immobilization of SA.</p><p>The aim of this master's thesis project was to develop biotinylated gold surfaces for quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) applications through the self-assembly of mixed monolayers of thiolated OEG (or PEG) derivatives with or without a terminal biotin head group. For this, different thiol compounds were to be compared and evaluated. For the systems under study, the required biotin density for maximum specific SA immobilization was to be established, while keeping the non-specific serum adsorption at a minimum. Model experiments with biotinylated proteins immobilized to the SA-functionalized surfaces were to be performed to evaluate the possibilities for commercialization.</p><p>A protocol for the preparation of a novel biotinylated surface was developed based on the immersion of gold substrates in an ethanolic incubation solution of dithiols with OEG chains (SS-OEG and SS-OEG-biotin, 99:1) and found to give reproducible results with respect to low non-specific protein binding and immobilization of a monolayer of SA. The modified surfaces allowed for subsequent immobilization of biotinylated bovine serum albumin (bBSA) and biotinylated plasminogen (bPLG). PLG was the subject of a challenging case study, using a combination of QCM-D and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), where the immobilized protein was subjected to low molecular weight ligands that were believed to induce conformational changes. The high control of the surface chemistry allowed for the interpretation of the increased dissipation shift upon ligand binding in terms of conformational changes.</p><p>An obstacle before commercialization of the described biotinylated surfaces is that they do not seem stable for storage > 7 days. The reasons for this have to be investigated further.</p>