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Posted on Thu, Dec 18, 2014

Rapid biofunctionalization of magnetic beads with function-spacer-lipid constructs

KODE™ Technology is based on novel water-dispersible self-assembling molecules, called a function-spacer-lipids or KODE™ constructs (Figure 1) that are able to coat virtually any biological or non-biological surface with almost any biological or non-biological material [1-10]. The primary coating method of live cells, organisms, bacteria and viruses or solid surfaces (glass, metals, plastics, etc.) is achieved by simple contact with a solution containing one or more FSL KODE™ constructs. Upon contact the FSLs spontaneously and harmlessly create a stable and novel surface coating. Essentially the spontaneous self-assembling process is driven by the need of the constructs to “exclude water”. Because the constructs are able to bind to virtually any surface, be it hydrophobic or hydrophilic the mechanisms of action are multiple and complex and include hydrophobic interactions (via lipid tail), hydrophilic interactions (via the head group and spacer), micelle entrapment, encapsulation, bi/multi layer assembly, and other factors such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, electrostatic and ionic interactions and combinations of all the above on complex surfaces.

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schematic of FSL-biotin

Figure 1. Schematic of FSL-biotin. Upper image show one possible conformation of the FSL-biotin construct while the lower image shows its schematic formula. The spacer of FSL biotin is a partially carboxymethylated oligoglycine while the lipid tail is 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho ethanolamine (DOPE).

To-date a large range of peptides, simple and complex carbohydrates (including sialic acids and hyaluronin), peptides, fluorescent markers, reactive functional groups, biotin (Figure 1), oligonucleotides, radiolabels, chelators, and other functional moieties have been created as FSL constructs [1-10]. The key advantages of KODE™ Technology over other conjugation techniques are that it allows the user to create bespoke novel surfaces on demand, and it can also harmlessly modify live cells to facilitate their attachment to beads. Because multiple different FSL constructs can be added simultaneously to a bead, and in a controlled manner (by simply altering relative concentrations of FSLs in the mix), users can build on the surface of the bead a variety of complex multi-ligand biofunctional surfaces. Furthermore, the technology is compatible with existing functionalized beads and would allow users to add further features, such as fluorescent labels, or other enhancing or blocking components.

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Methodology

The use of FSL constructs with magnetic beads has multiple different approaches. The primary approach is to simply modify the magnetic bead with a FSL construct such as biotin or an antigen to facilitate direct binding. This approach can be modified by use of a secondarily active component such as streptavidin or an antibody. A further approach is to also modify the cell/virus with FSLs to facilitate their attachment to the magnetic beads. These approaches to capture live cells or other biological material onto magnetic beads are described below.

Preparation of biotin koded microspheres

Wash 1g of magnetic microspheres (e.g. Millipore Estapor® Magnetic microspheres) with water and remove most of the supernatant. Add 2 mL of FSL-biotin (187786-1-R&D) diluted to 100 µg/mL (50µM) in PBS and vortex briefly. Incubate at RT for 1 hour and wash once with storage buffer (PBS containing 0.1% Tween® 20, 0.5% BSA, 0.05% sodium azide) and then store in buffer at 4°C for up to 1 year. These biotin microspheres can be use to capture avidinylated biological or non-biological material.

Preparation of streptavidin koded microspheres

Decant supernatant from biotin koded microspheres and add a solution of streptavidin (1 mg/mL) in a ratio of 2 mL per gram of microspheres. Vortex briefly and incubate at RT for 1 hour, with mixing after 30 minutes. Wash twice in storage buffer, then store in buffer at 4°C for up to 1 year. Note: Streptavidin and neutravidin coatings perform better than avidin. These biotin-avidinylated microspheres can be use to capture biotinylated biological or non-biological material.

Capturing biotin kodecytes onto streptavidin koded microspheres

Prepare kodecytes by contacting cells (red cells, culture lines, sperm, embryo, bacteria, etc) with a 50 µM solution of FSL-biotin, or FSS-biotin (416662-1-R&D) for 1 hour at 37°C. Capture the biotin kodecytes onto streptavidin koded microspheres by simply bringing them into contact (Figure 2). The attachment is sufficiently robust to magnetically isolate the kodecytes captured on the koded magnetic microspheres from other cells in a mixture.

cells coated with magnetic microspheres biofunctionalized with FSL-biotin

Figure 2. Typical results of cells (7 µm red cells) being coated with magnetic microspheres (1 µm ) biofunctionalized with FSL-constructs. In this example the magnetic microspheres are functionalized with FSL-biotin+streptavidin and the red cells are functionalized with FSL-biotin. Photo (200×) shows cells post magnetic isolation, but before being released from the microspheres by vortexing.

Capturing cells onto antibody koded microspheres

Preparing antibody koded microspheres is essentially the same method as preparing streptavidin koded microspheres except the FSL-biotin is exchanged for an FSL–antigen and the streptavidin is replaced with a high-titre high-affinity IgM antibody. Capture of antigen positive cells requires simple contact with the antibody koded microspheres.

Release of captured intact cells from koded microspheres

Dilute the recovered cell covered microspheres about 10-fold with PBS. Vortex for 1 minute to release most of the microspheres from the kodecytes/cells, and immediately magnetically separate the beads and decant the released kodecytes/cells. Large microspheres are required to obtain the shear-forces required for full release of all microspheres from kodecytes/cells. Released kodecytes/cells will be functional, but will contain traces of FSL-constructs and/or related material on their surfaces. These surface preparation remnants should be lost within 48 hours on cells with an active membrane.

Summary

In summary within a few hours a magnetic bead (or any surface) can be modified with an appropriate FSL construct and used to specifically capture live cells, virions, particles, or other biological or non-biological material.

FSL-biotin and other research related FSL-constructs are available from Sigma-Aldrich and KODE Biotech Materials Ltd. Further information on KODE™ Technology can be found at www.kodecyte.com

References

[1] Barr K, Korchagina E, Ryzhov I, Bovin N, Henry S. Mapping the fine specificity of ABO monoclonal reagents with A and B type-specific FSL constructs in kodecytes and inkjet printed on paper (in press Transfusion) doi: 10.1111/trf.12661

[2] Blake DA, Bovin NV, Bess D, Henry SM. FSL Constructs: A simple method for modifying cell/virion surfaces with a range of biological markers without affecting their viability. J Visualized Experiments 2011 Aug 5;(54). e3289 doi: 10.3791/3289 (http://www.jove.com/details.php?id=3289).

[3] Hadac EM, Federspiel MJ, Chernyy E, Tuzikov A, Korchagina E, Bovin NV, Russell S, Henry SM. Fluorescein and radiolabeled Function-Spacer-Lipid constructs allow for simple in vitro and in vivo bioimaging of enveloped virions J Virological Methods 2011;176:78-84 doi:10.1016/j.jviromet.2011.06.005

[4] Heathcote D, Carroll T, Wang JJ, Flower R, Rodionov I, Tuzikov A, Bovin N & Henry S. Novel antibody screening cells, MUT+Mur kodecytes, created by attaching peptides onto erythrocytes. Transfusion 2010;50:635-641   doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2009.02480.x

[5] Hult AK, Frame T, Chesla S, Henry S, Olsson ML. Flow cytometry evaluation of red blood cells mimicking naturally-occurring ABO subgroups following modification with variable amounts of FSL-A and B constructs. Transfusion 2012; 52: 247-251 doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03268.x

[6] Ilyushina NA, Chernyy ES, Korchagina EY, Gambaryan AS, Henry SM, Bovin NV. Labeling of influenza viruses with synthetic fluorescent and biotin-labeled lipids. Virologica Sinica 2014, 29 (4): 199-210 DOI 10.1007/s12250-014-3475-1

[7] Korchagina E, Tuzikov A, Formanovsky A, Popova I, Henry S, and Bovin N. Toward creating cell membrane glycolandscapes with glycan lipid constructs. Carbohydrate Research 2012; 356: 238-246 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2012.03.044

[8] Lan C-C, Blake D, Henry S, Love DR. Fluorescent Function-Spacer-Lipid construct labelling allows for real-time in vivo imaging of cell migration and behaviour in zebrafish (Danio rerio) Journal of Fluorescence 2012; 22: 1055-1063 doi 10.1007/s10895-012-1043-3

[9] Oliver C, Blake D, Henry S. In vivo neutralization of anti-A and successful transfusion of A antigen incompatible red cells in an animal model. Transfusion 2011; 51: 2664-2675 doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03184.x

[10] Oliver C, Blake D, Henry S. Modeling transfusion reactions and predicting in vivo cell survival with kodecytes. Transfusion 2011; 51: 1723-1730 doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2010.03034.x

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About the author: Stephen Henry - Auckland University of Technology & KODE Biotech

Stephen Henry of KODE Biotech LimitedCEO/CSO of KODE Biotech Limited, inventor of the biosurface modification KODE™ Technology and Professor of Biotech Innovation in the School of Engineering at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Steve has more than 30 years experience in blood and biotechnology research and has published or presented more than 180 scientific articles and is an inventor on more than 120 patents/applications.

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