Activatable MRI probes for the specific detection of bacteria.
Prabu PeriyathambiAlien BalianZhangjun HuDaniel PadroLuiza I HernandezKajsa UvdalJoao DuarteFrank J HernandezPublished in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry (2021)
Activatable fluorescent probes have been successfully used as molecular tools for biomedical research in the last decades. Fluorescent probes allow the detection of molecular events, providing an extraordinary platform for protein and cellular research. Nevertheless, most of the fluorescent probes reported are susceptible to interferences from endogenous fluorescence (background signal) and limited tissue penetration is expected. These drawbacks prevent the use of fluorescent tracers in the clinical setting. To overcome the limitation of fluorescent probes, we and others have developed activatable magnetic resonance probes. Herein, we report for the first time, an oligonucleotide-based probe with the capability to detect bacteria using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The activatable MRI probe consists of a specific oligonucleotide that targets micrococcal nuclease (MN), a nuclease derived from Staphylococcus aureus. The oligonucleotide is flanked by a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) at one end, and by a dendron functionalized with several gadolinium complexes as enhancers, at the other end. Therefore, only upon recognition of the MRI probe by the specific bacteria is the probe activated and the MRI signal can be detected. This approach may be widely applied to detect bacterial infections or other human conditions with the potential to be translated into the clinic as an activatable contrast agent.
Keyphrases
- living cells
- fluorescent probe
- contrast enhanced
- magnetic resonance imaging
- magnetic resonance
- single molecule
- diffusion weighted imaging
- iron oxide
- fluorescence imaging
- quantum dots
- computed tomography
- staphylococcus aureus
- primary care
- small molecule
- label free
- amino acid
- escherichia coli
- high throughput
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
- cystic fibrosis
- risk assessment
- climate change
- molecularly imprinted
- protein protein
- mass spectrometry
- iron oxide nanoparticles
- human health
- energy transfer