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Author Spotlight: Engineering Molecular Tools for Disease Detection and Imaging
Published on: December 8, 2023
899
Programmable Atom-Like Nanoparticle Reporters for High-Precision Urinalysis of In Situ Membrane Proteins
Fei Ding1, Shuangye Zhang2, Qian Chen1
1Department of Liver Surgery, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, 200127, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|December 14, 2023
Summary
This study introduces programmable nanoparticles for disease diagnostics using urine. These nanoparticles detect membrane proteins, enabling early detection of acute kidney injury 6 hours sooner than current methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomolecular Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Diagnostic Assays
Background:
- Disease-specific membrane proteins (MPs) are key indicators for disease onset and progression.
- Urinalysis offers potential for point-of-care diagnostics but lacks reporters for in situ MP expression.
- Current methods face challenges in translating MP expression into measurable urine composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel molecular reporter system for transforming in situ MP expression into measurable urine signals.
- To enable high-fidelity assessment of in situ MP levels through urinalysis.
- To advance early disease diagnostics, specifically for acute kidney injury.
Main Methods:
- Utilized tetrahedral DNA frameworks (TDFs) as cores for programmable atom-like nanoparticles (PANs).
- Engineered PAN reporters with defined ligand valence and spatial distribution for self-assembly.
- Investigated the stability and interaction of PAN reporters with MPs in a renal tubule-mimic microenvironment.
Main Results:
- Achieved stable interaction between PAN reporters and MPs on cell membranes in a simulated renal fluid environment.
- Demonstrated high-fidelity conversion of MP expression levels into binding events.
- Enabled reverse assessment of in situ MP levels by measuring PAN reporter renal clearance efficiency.
- Empowered urinalysis for acute kidney injury detection at least 6 hours earlier than existing methods (AUC of 100%).
Conclusions:
- The PAN reporter system effectively transforms in situ MP expression into measurable signals for urinalysis.
- This strategy enables highly sensitive and early detection of diseases like acute kidney injury.
- The technology holds potential for the urinalysis of various in situ membrane proteins for diverse diagnostic applications.
