Hybrid microbots
A hybrid of nanoparticles and antibodies will help detect cancer cells
Natalia Safronova, "Scientific Russia"
"Biomicrobots" capable of finding and labeling various macromolecules in living tissues of the body have been synthesized by young scientists of NUST MISIS. They consist of magnetic nanoparticles and antibodies attached to them and in the future will be able to visualize proteins on the surface of cells. The results of the study are published in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (Ivanova et al., Synthesis and intensive analysis of antibody labeled single core magnetic nanoparticles for targeted delivery to the cell membrane).
In modern biomedicine, nanoparticles are one of the most promising and in-demand tools. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles are used for targeted drug delivery, treatment with hyperthermia, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as contrast agents and for mechanical manipulations in a magnetic field.
One of the most important stages of oncotherapy is the accurate diagnosis and visualization of pathological cells of the body, which are capable of not detecting themselves for a considerable time and delaying the development of the disease in the later stages. To solve this problem, the "problem" cells must be pinpointed and marked with special markers.
The employees of NUST MISIS and the Pirogov RNIMU demonstrated that magnetic nanoparticles can be used in the form of microbots that find and bind to cells. To do this, nanoparticles need to be combined with antibodies in a special way.
"Magnetic nanoparticles can "work" in a living organism not by themselves, but due to organic shells that protect them from oxidation and degradation in aggressive environments, as well as increase the hydrophilicity of the surface and reduce cytotoxicity," said Anna Ivanova, the author of the work, a graduate student of the Biomedical Nanomaterials laboratory at NUST MISIS. – In addition, if certain markers, such as proteins, enzymes and antibodies, are "attached" to the stabilized coating of nanoparticles, they can target nanoparticles in the bloodstream to specific "targets". For example, they will attach to proteins on the surface of cells."
To create such a "microbot", scientists first synthesized using thermal decomposition iron oxide nanoparticles of uniform shape and size of 40-50 nanometers. Then, in order for the material to function in aqueous solutions, it was modified with DOPAC molecules. This substance is 3,4–dihydroxyhydrocoric acid, which is a derivative of the neurotransmitter dopamine and can be synthesized in the body itself.
The next stage was the optimization of the particle surface to work in physiological environments, which the developers did with the help of polyethylene glycol. At the final stage of synthesis, species-specific antibodies with a fluorescent dye were attached to the nanoparticles.
"Our experiments have shown that the obtained nanoparticles with antibodies specifically bind to primary antibodies against the α-tubulin protein, and this is visualized in the cytoplasm in the form of characteristic fibers; and against β-catenin, which is located on cell membranes and participates in the formation of intercellular contacts," added the co–author of the study, an employee of the Biomedical Nanomaterials laboratory" Alexey Nikitin.
Thus, the researchers have shown that they have developed a working model on which various antibodies can be "sewn". Currently, the research team continues to work on optimizing the resulting compound.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru