Open AccessEfficient Assembly of Quantum Dots with Homogenous Glycans Derived from Natural N-Linked Glycoproteins
Author(s) -
Valle Palomo,
Philip A. Cistrone,
Naiqian Zhan,
Goutam Palui,
Hedi Mattoussi,
Philip E. Dawson
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
bioconjugate chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.279
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 1520-4812
pISSN - 1043-1802
DOI - 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00477
Subject(s) - chemistry , glycan , bioconjugation , sialic acid , glycoprotein , polyethylene glycol , moiety , macromolecule , steric effects , immunogenicity , covalent bond , peg ratio , biochemistry , biophysics , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , materials science , immune system , finance , economics , immunology , biology
Coating inorganic nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-appended ligands, as means to preserve their physical characteristics and promote steric interactions with biological systems, including enhanced aqueous solubility and reduced immunogenicity, has been explored by several groups. Conversely, macromolecules present in the human serum and on the surface of cells are densely coated with hydrophilic glycans that act to reduce nonspecific interactions, while facilitating specific binding and interactions. In particular, N-linked glycans are abundant on the surface of most serum proteins and are composed of a branched architecture that is typically characterized by a significant level of molecular heterogeneity. Here we provide two distinct methodologies, covalent bioconjugation and self-assembly, to functionalize two types of Quantum Dots with a homogeneous, complex-type N-linked glycan terminated with a sialic acid moiety. A detailed physical and functional characterization of these glycan-coated nanoparticles has been performed. Our findings support the potential use of such fluorescent platforms to sense glycan-involved biological processes, such as lectin recognition and sialidase-mediated hydrolysis.