This paper presents a method involving the synthesis and characterization of monocyte-targeting peptide amphiphile micelles and the corresponding assays to test for biocompatibility and ability of the micelle to bind to monocytes.
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Method Article
Synthesis of Monocyte-targeting Peptide Amphiphile Micelles for Imaging of Atherosclerosis
In This Article
Summary
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, which claims 17.3 million lives annually. Atherosclerosis is also the leading cause of sudden death and myocardial infarction, instigated by unstable plaques that rupture and occlude the blood vessel without warning. Current imaging modalities cannot differentiate between stable and unstable plaques that rupture. Peptide amphiphiles micelles (PAMs) can overcome this drawback as they can be modified with a variety of targeting moieties that bind specifically to diseased tissue. Monocytes have been shown to be early markers of atherosclerosis, while large accumulation of monocytes is associated with plaques prone to rupture. Hence, nanoparticles that can target monocytes can be used to discriminate different stages of atherosclerosis. To that end, here, we describe a protocol for the preparation of monocyte-targeting PAMs (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) PAMs). MCP-1 PAMs are self-assembled through synthesis under mild conditions to form nanoparticles of 15 nm in diameter with near neutral surface charge. In vitro, PAMs were found to be biocompatible and had a high binding affinity for monocytes. The methods described herein show promise for a wide range of applications in atherosclerosis as well as other inflammatory diseases.
Introduction
Cardiovascular diseases remain to be the leading causes of death globally with approximately 17.3 million deaths worldwide1. Cardiovascular diseases are contributed by atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaques build up in the arteries, thereby inhibiting blood and oxygen flow to the cells of the body2,3. The progression of atherosclerosis involves the thickening and hardening of arteries by an inflammatory response, irregular lipid metabolism, and plaque build-up, leading to plaque rupture and myocardial infarction4,5. Endot....
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Protocol
NOTE: Read the MSDS for reagents and follow all chemical safety measures as required by local institution.
1. Preparation of MCP-1 PAMs
- Preparation of MCP-1 peptide
- Weigh out 0.25 mmol of Fmoc-L-Lys(Boc)-Wang in a reaction vessel (RV). Rinse the side of the RV with 5 mL dimethylforamide (DMF) in a chemical fume hood.
- Load the RV onto an automated benchtop peptide synthesizer. Load pre-packaged amino acid vials, N'-CYNFTINRKISVQRLASYRRITSS-C', from the C to N-terminus. Include an empty vial at the end for the final deprotection step.
NOTE: A scrambled peptide with sequence, ....
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Results
Preparation of MCP-1 PAM
The CCR2-binding motif (residues 13-35) of the MCP-1 protein [YNFTNRKISVQRLASYRRITSSK] or scrambled peptide [YNSLVFRIRNSTQRKYRASIST] was modified by adding a cysteine residue on the N-terminus. The MCP-1 peptide was synthesized by a Fmoc-mediated solid-phase method using an automated peptide synthesizer. The crude peptide was purified by reverse-phase HPLC on a C8 column at 50 °C using 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile/water mixtures and characterized .......
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Discussion
MCP-1 PAMs are a promising molecular imaging platform, consisting of a hydrophilic targeting peptide and hydrophobic tail that drives the self-assembled nature of the nanoparticle. This monocyte-targeting micelle can be prepared by simple synthesis and purification steps of the MCP-1 peptide and DSPE-PEG(2000)-MCP-1. PAMs have many beneficial characteristics for in vivo molecular imaging such as their self-assembly under mild conditions, intrinsic biodegradability, and structural and chemical diversity allowing .......
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Disclosures
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the University of Southern California, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), R00HL124279, Eli and Edythe Broad Innovation Award, and the L.K. Whittier Foundation Non-Cancer Translational Research Award granted to EJC. The authors thank the Center for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis, Center of Excellence in NanoBiophysics, Center of Excellence for Molecular Characterization, and Translational Imaging Center at the University of Southern California for assistance in instrumental setups.
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Materials
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-ethanedithiol | VWR | E0032 | for peptide synthesis |
| 10 mL disposable serological pipets | VWR | 89130-898 | for cell culture |
| 15 mL centrifuge tubes, polypropylene | VWR | 89401-566 | for various applications |
| 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 99% | Fisher Scientific | AC165200050 | for MALDI |
| 25 mL disposable serological pipets | VWR | 89130-900 | for cell culture |
| 2-Mercaptoethanol, 50 mM | ThermoFisher Scientific | 31350010 | for cell culture |
| 5 mL disposable serological pipets | VWR | 89130-896 | for cell culture |
| 50 mL centrifuge tubes | VWR | 89039-658 | for various applications |
| 75 cm2 culture flask | Fisher Scientific | 13-680-65 | for cell culture |
| 75 mL reaction vessel | Protein Technologies | 3000005 | for peptide synthesis |
| 96-wells cell culture plate | VWR | 40101-346 | for MTS assay |
| Acetonitrile, HPLC grade | Fisher Scientific | A998SK-4 | for HPLC purification |
| Borosilicate glass, 1 dram | VWR | 66011-041 | for PAM synthesis |
| Borosillicate glass pipet, Long tips | VWR | 14673-043 | for various applications |
| Coverslip, 0.16-0.19 mm, 22 x 22 mm | Fisher Scientific | 12-542B | for confocal microscopy |
| Cy5 amine | Abcam | ab146463 | for peptide conjugation |
| Diethyl ether, ACS grade | Fisher Scientific | E138-1 | for peptide precipitation |
| Disposable syringes, 20 mL | Fisher Scientific | 14-817-54 | for HPLC purification |
| Double neubauer ruled hemocytometer | VWR | 63510-13 | for cell counting |
| DSPE-PEG(2000) amine | Avanti | 880128P | for peptide conjugation |
| DSPE-PEG(2000) maleimide | Avanti | 880126P | for peptide conjugation |
| DSPE-PEG(2000)-NHS ester | Nanocs | PG2-DSNS-10K | for conjugation to Cy5 |
| Dulbecco's modified eagle medium-high glucose | Sigma Aldrich | D5796-500ML | for cell culture |
| Fetal bovine serum, qualified, heat inactivated | ThermoFisher Scientific | 10438026 | for cell culture |
| Fmoc-L-Ala-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-A | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Arg(Pbf)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-RBF | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Asn(Trt)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-NT | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Cys(Trt)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-CT | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Gln(Trt)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-QT | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Ile-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-I | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Leu-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-L | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Lys(Boc)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-KBC | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Phe-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-F | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Ser(tBu)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-SB | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Thr(tBu)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-TB | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Tyr(tBu)-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-YB | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-L-Val-OH /HBTU | Protein Technologies | PS3-H5-V | for peptide synthesis |
| Fmoc-Lys(Boc)-wang resin, 100-200 mesh | Novabiochem | 856013 | for peptide synthesis |
| Formic acid, optima LC/MS grade | Fisher Scientific | A117-50 | for HPLC purification |
| Glycerol | VWR | M152-1L | for confocal microscopy |
| Hand tally counter | Fisher Scientific | S90189 | for cell counting |
| Magnetic stir bars, egg-shaped | VWR | 58949-006 | for peptide conjugation |
| Methanol, ACS certified | Fisher Scientific | A412-4 | for PAM synthesis |
| MTS cell proliferation colorimetric assay kit | VWR | 10191-104 | for MTS assay |
| N,N-Dimethylformamide, sequencing grade | Fisher Scientific | BP1160-4 | for peptide synthesis |
| N-Methylmorpholine | Protein Technologies | S-1L-NMM | for peptide synthesis |
| Paraformaldehyde | Fisher Scientific | AC416780250 | for fixing cells |
| PBS, pH 7.4 | ThermoFisher Scientific | 10010049 | for various applications |
| Penicillin/streptomycin, 10,000 U/mL | ThermoFisher Scientific | 15140122 | for cell culture |
| Peptide synthesis vessel, 25 mL | Fisher Scientific | CG186011 | for peptide synthesis |
| Phosphotungstic acid | Fisher Scientific | A248-25 | for TEM |
| Piperidine | Spectrum | P1146-2.5LTGL | for peptide synthesis |
| Plain glass microscope slide 75 x 25 mm | Fisher Scientific | 12-550-A3 | for confocal microscopy |
| Reagent reservoirs, sterile | VWR | 95128093 | for cell culture |
| Self-closing tweezer | TedPella | 515 | for TEM |
| TEM support film | TedPella | 01814F | for TEM |
| Trifluoroacetic acid | Fisher Scientific | BP618-500 | for peptide cleavage and HPLC purification |
| Triisopropylsilane | VWR | TCT1533-5ml | for peptide cleavage |
| Trypan blue solution, 0.4% | ThermoFisher Scientific | 15250061 | for cell counting |
| Tweezer, general purpose-serrated | VWR | 231-SA-SE | for confocal microscopy |
| WEHI-274.1 | ATCC | ATCC CRL-1679 | murine monocyte |
| automated benchtop peptide synthesizer | Protein Technologies | PS3 Benchtop Peptide Synthesizer | |
| α- cyano- 4- hydroxycinnamic acid, 99% | Sigma Aldrich | 476870-2G | for MALDI |
References
- Mozaffarian, D., et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 133 (4), e38-e60 (2016).
- Falk, E. Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 47 (8, Suppl. C), C7-C12....
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