{"title":"A nano-platform harnessing synergistic amino acid browning for biomedical applications†","authors":"Teh-Min Hu, Jia-An Liang and Yi-Hua Chiang","doi":"10.1039/D4TB00529E","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p >Amino acids show promise as versatile biomolecules for creating a variety of functional biomaterials. Previously, we discovered a novel amino acid reaction, in which a single amino acid can form browning species in a simple solvent mixture comprising DMSO and acetone at room temperature. In the present study, we initially conducted a comprehensive analysis of 190 pairs of binary amino acids (<em>i.e.</em>, all the possible pairwise combinations out of 20 amino acids) and identified several surprising combinations that exhibited synergistic browning effects. Particularly, cysteine–lysine and cysteine–arginine pairs exhibited pronounced browning in DMSO/acetone cosolvent solutions. We hypothesize that the coloured species result from the formation of extended, hydrophobic molecules with highly conjugated systems, arising from extensive condensation reactions between amino acids. Subsequently, we aimed at developing a nano-platform based on this newly discovered amino acid reaction. We demonstrate that through a nanoprecipitation process (solvent-shifting), spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm can be produced, in the presence of ferric ions added to the water phase. Through systematic optimization and comprehensive characterization, the final product is a zwitterionic, charge-reversible nanoparticle featuring three functional groups on its surface: carboxylates, amines, and thiols. Furthermore, it possesses mild antioxidant activity, making it a new type of nano-antioxidant. Finally, we present preliminary results highlighting the potential of using this new nanomaterial as a delivery system for polynucleotides. In conclusion, the paper introduces a novel class of amino acid-derived nanoparticles with significant promise for future biomedical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","FirstCategoryId":"1","ListUrlMain":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/tb/d4tb00529e","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, BIOMATERIALS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Amino acids show promise as versatile biomolecules for creating a variety of functional biomaterials. Previously, we discovered a novel amino acid reaction, in which a single amino acid can form browning species in a simple solvent mixture comprising DMSO and acetone at room temperature. In the present study, we initially conducted a comprehensive analysis of 190 pairs of binary amino acids (i.e., all the possible pairwise combinations out of 20 amino acids) and identified several surprising combinations that exhibited synergistic browning effects. Particularly, cysteine–lysine and cysteine–arginine pairs exhibited pronounced browning in DMSO/acetone cosolvent solutions. We hypothesize that the coloured species result from the formation of extended, hydrophobic molecules with highly conjugated systems, arising from extensive condensation reactions between amino acids. Subsequently, we aimed at developing a nano-platform based on this newly discovered amino acid reaction. We demonstrate that through a nanoprecipitation process (solvent-shifting), spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 100 to 200 nm can be produced, in the presence of ferric ions added to the water phase. Through systematic optimization and comprehensive characterization, the final product is a zwitterionic, charge-reversible nanoparticle featuring three functional groups on its surface: carboxylates, amines, and thiols. Furthermore, it possesses mild antioxidant activity, making it a new type of nano-antioxidant. Finally, we present preliminary results highlighting the potential of using this new nanomaterial as a delivery system for polynucleotides. In conclusion, the paper introduces a novel class of amino acid-derived nanoparticles with significant promise for future biomedical applications.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B & C cover high quality studies across all fields of materials chemistry. The journals focus on those theoretical or experimental studies that report new understanding, applications, properties and synthesis of materials. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, B & C are separated by the intended application of the material studied. Broadly, applications in energy and sustainability are of interest to Journal of Materials Chemistry A, applications in biology and medicine are of interest to Journal of Materials Chemistry B, and applications in optical, magnetic and electronic devices are of interest to Journal of Materials Chemistry C.Journal of Materials Chemistry B is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant. Example topic areas within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry B are listed below. This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive:
Antifouling coatings
Biocompatible materials
Bioelectronics
Bioimaging
Biomimetics
Biomineralisation
Bionics
Biosensors
Diagnostics
Drug delivery
Gene delivery
Immunobiology
Nanomedicine
Regenerative medicine & Tissue engineering
Scaffolds
Soft robotics
Stem cells
Therapeutic devices