Synthesis of multifunctional cellulose nanocrystals for lectin recognition and bacterial imaging

Multifunctional cellulose nanocrystals have been synthesized and applied as a new type of glyconanomaterial in lectin binding and bacterial imaging. The cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by TEMPO-mediated oxidation and acidic hydrolysis, followed by functionalization with a quinolone fluorophore and carbohydrate ligands. The cellulose nanocrystals were subsequently applied in interaction studies with carbohydrate-binding proteins and in bacterial imaging. The results show that the functional cellulose nanocrystals could selectively recognize the corresponding cognate lectins. In addition, mannosylated nanocrystals were shown to selectively interact with FimH-presenting E. coli, as detected by TEM and confocal fluorescence microscopy. These glyconanomaterials provide a new application of cellulose nanocrystals in biorecognition and imaging.