Covalent attachment of metal chelates to proteins:the stability in vivo and in vitro of the conjugate of albumin with a chelate of 111indium

Li+ and Na+ attachment to some dipeptides via LDI-TOF mass spectrometry: Fragmentation patterns

Laser desorption ionization-time of flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is used for studying the attachment of Na⁺ and Li⁺ ions to four dipeptides including phenylalanyl-alanine (Phe-Ala), tyrosyl-alanine (Tyr-Ala), L-Phenylalanyl-L-Phenylalanine (Phe-Phe), and alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) dipeptides. The LiCl, NaOH, and NaF salts are used as the source of Li⁺ and Na⁺ ions in the LDI of the dipeptides. Our aim is the investigation of the difference between the fragmentation patterns of the selected dipeptides in the presence of Na⁺ and Li⁺ ions due to the laser radiation and providing information for the fragmentation of larger peptides in the same conditions. The characteristic peak, related to [dipeptide-H + 2Na]⁺ species, is observed in the mass spectrum of Phe-Ala and Tyr-Ala dipeptides in the presence of NaF, while the breaking of the peptide bond (OC-NH) occurs for the Phe-Phe in the presence of the aforementioned salts. The characteristic peak of Ala-Gln dipeptide ([(Ala-Gln)-H + 2Na]⁺) is observed in the absence of any salt. The mass spectra of the dipeptides, recorded in the presence of LiCl, are crowded compared to those recorded in the presence of NaF and NaOH showing the effect of the type of alkali salt on the dipeptide fragmentation. The theoretical calculations are employed to investigate the ability of the interaction sites of dipeptides for the attachment of one and two Na⁺ and determine the most stable structure of the [dipeptide-H + 2Na]⁺ species for each dipeptide.

HIV Apheresis Tags (HIVAT) Aided Elimination of Viremia

INTRODUCTION

HIV viremia is the essential element for progression of an initial HIV infection into AIDS and death. The currently approved management relies primarily on chemotherapy repressing the HIV replication in the infected CD4+ cells, although with severe systemic adverse effects. The problem is that it does not physically eliminate viruses, which then not only keep infecting healthy cells of these patients, but also promote infections of other people.

SPECIFIC AIM

An overall objective of our work is biomolecular engineering of virus apheresis tags (VAT) that eliminate viremias without adverse effects. The specific aim of this project was biomolecular engineering of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT): CD4-Au-Fe3O4, CD4-SiO2-Fe3O4, anti-gp120-Au-Fe3O4, and anti-gp120-SiO2-Fe3O4.

HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS

Per the Institutional Review Board's approval and in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki, healthy donors and patients were presented with Patient Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent, while all the procedures were pursued by the licensed physicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CD4, gp120, gp41, gp160, anti-gp120, p24 were transgenomically expressed. Superparamagnetic core-shell particles (SPM-CSP) were synthesized. SPM-CSP were used as the nucleation centers for assembling the expressed molecules upon them to create virus apheresis tags (VAT). VAT were injected into the blood or lymph acquired from the HIV+ and HBV+ patients followed by apheresis at 0.47 - 9.4 T. VAT efficacy in eliminating viremia was determined through immunoblots, NMR and q-RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Treatment of blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients' with VAT followed by virus apheresis resulted in rapid elimination of the HIV viremia. Efficacy of apheresis was contingent upon the gravity of viremia versus doses and regimens of VAT. Importantly, administration of VAT also effectively improved levels of non-infected CD4+ lymphocytes.

DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS

Herein, we present the proof of concept for a new, effective treatment with virus apheresis tags (VAT), specifically Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT), of the HIV+ patients' blood and lymph, which is eliminating the HIV viremia.It can be easily adapted as treatments of viremias perpetrated by other deadly viruses, which we vigorously pursue.

HIV Apheresis Tags (HIVAT) Aided Elimination of Viremia

INTRODUCTION

HIV viremia is the essential element for progression of an initial HIV infection into AIDS and death. The currently approved management relies primarily on chemotherapy repressing the HIV replication in the infected CD4+ cells, although with severe systemic adverse effects. The problem is that it does not physically eliminate viruses, which then not only keep infecting healthy cells of these patients, but also promote infections of other people.

SPECIFIC AIM

An overall objective of our work is biomolecular engineering of virus apheresis tags (VAT) that eliminate viremias without adverse effects. The specific aim of this project was biomolecular engineering of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT): CD4-Au-Fe3O4, CD4-SiO2-Fe3O4, anti-gp120-Au-Fe3O4, and anti-gp120-SiO2-Fe3O4.

HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS

Per the Institutional Review Board's approval and in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki, healthy donors and patients were presented with Patient Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent, while all the procedures were pursued by the licensed physicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CD4, gp120, gp41, gp160, anti-gp120, p24 were transgenomically expressed. Superparamagnetic core-shell particles (SPM-CSP) were synthesized. SPM-CSP were used as the nucleation centers for assembling the expressed molecules upon them to create virus apheresis tags (VAT). VAT were injected into the blood or lymph acquired from the HIV+ and HBV+ patients followed by apheresis at 0.47 - 9.4 T. VAT efficacy in eliminating viremia was determined through immunoblots, NMR and q-RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Treatment of blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients' with VAT followed by virus apheresis resulted in rapid elimination of the HIV viremia. Efficacy of apheresis was contingent upon the gravity of viremia versus doses and regimens of VAT. Importantly, administration of VAT also effectively improved levels of non-infected CD4+ lymphocytes.

DISCUSSION / CONCLUSIONS

Herein, we present the proof of concept for a new, effective treatment with virus apheresis tags (VAT), specifically Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT), of the HIV+ patients' blood and lymph, which is eliminating the HIV viremia.It can be easily adapted as treatments of viremias perpetrated by other deadly viruses, which we vigorously pursue.

HIV Universal Vaccine

BACKGROUND

For many deadly viruses, there are no preventive and / or therapeutic vaccines approved by health authorities World-wide (e.g., HIV, Ebola, Dengue, and many others). Although, for some viruses, prophylactic vaccines are very effective (e.g., HBV, and many others).In this realm, we design, manufacture, test, and streamline into the clinics novel viral universal vaccines (VUV). VUV have such unique features, that medical vaccination or natural infection induced immunity against some viruses (e.g., HBV) upon the VUV's administration to the infected with other, different viruses patients, is redirected against these other, newly infecting viruses (e.g., HIV).

SPECIFIC AIM

The specific aim of this work was biomolecular engineering of the HIV universal vaccine comprising the two main functional domains: CD4 or anti-gp120 - as the HIV tagging domain and HBsAg - as the immune response eliciting domain, so that upon its administration the HBV medical immunization or natural infection induced immunity would be redirected, accelerated, and amplified to fight the HIV infection.

HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS

Per the Institutional Review Board approval and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, all healthy donors and patients were presented with the Patients' Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent. All the procedures were pursued by the licensed medical doctors.

METHODS & RESULTS

We have biomolecularly engineered HIV universal vaccine (HIVUV) comprising human CD4 or anti-gp120 and HBsAg of HBV. By immunoblotting and magnetic activated molecular sorting, we have demonstrated high specificity of this vaccine in binding HIV. By flow cytometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, we have demonstrated high efficacy of these vaccines to engage HBV immunized patients' immune system against HIV. Administration of HIVUV to blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients resulted in rapid reduction of the HIV viremia down to undetectable. It also resulted in protection of populations of CD4+ cells against HIV caused decline.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated the proof of concept for high efficacy of VUV, specifically HIVUV, in annihilating HIV. Nevertheless, the same compositions, processes, and methods, for persons skilled in biotechnology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular medicine, are adaptable for other deadly viral infections, which we vigorously pursue.

HIV Universal Vaccine

BACKGROUND

For many deadly viruses, there are no preventive and / or therapeutic vaccines approved by health authorities World-wide (e.g., HIV, Ebola, Dengue, and many others). Although, for some viruses, prophylactic vaccines are very effective (e.g., HBV, and many others).In this realm, we design, manufacture, test, and streamline into the clinics novel viral universal vaccines (VUV). VUV have such unique features, that medical vaccination or natural infection induced immunity against some viruses (e.g., HBV) upon the VUV's administration to the infected with other, different viruses patients, is redirected against these other, newly infecting viruses (e.g., HIV).

SPECIFIC AIM

The specific aim of this work was biomolecular engineering of the HIV universal vaccine comprising the two main functional domains: CD4 or anti-gp120 - as the HIV tagging domain and HBsAg - as the immune response eliciting domain, so that upon its administration the HBV medical immunization or natural infection induced immunity would be redirected, accelerated, and amplified to fight the HIV infection.

HEALTHY DONORS AND PATIENTS

Per the Institutional Review Board approval and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, all healthy donors and patients were presented with the Patients' Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent. All the procedures were pursued by the licensed medical doctors.

METHODS & RESULTS

We have biomolecularly engineered HIV universal vaccine (HIVUV) comprising human CD4 or anti-gp120 and HBsAg of HBV. By immunoblotting and magnetic activated molecular sorting, we have demonstrated high specificity of this vaccine in binding HIV. By flow cytometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, we have demonstrated high efficacy of these vaccines to engage HBV immunized patients' immune system against HIV. Administration of HIVUV to blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients resulted in rapid reduction of the HIV viremia down to undetectable. It also resulted in protection of populations of CD4+ cells against HIV caused decline.

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated the proof of concept for high efficacy of VUV, specifically HIVUV, in annihilating HIV. Nevertheless, the same compositions, processes, and methods, for persons skilled in biotechnology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular medicine, are adaptable for other deadly viral infections, which we vigorously pursue.

Pharmacy Considerations Related to Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibodies

Current modalities used for the detection and treatment of cancer suffer from the lack of specificity for tumor cells. Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies have been, and continue to be, actively investigated for use in this regard. Various radionuclides, cell cultures, and radiolabeling processes have been examined, aimed at producing a product with sufficient immunoreactivity to enhance the use of these agents in various radioimmunodetection, radioimmunotherapy and radioimmunoguided surgery capacities. Antibody production, radiolabeling and radionuclide selection criteria, and quality assessment techniques for radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies are reviewed.

Radioactive antibodies: a historical review of selective targeting and treatment of cancer

Radioactive antibodies have served as imaging and therapeutic agents for several decades, but recent developments raise enthusiasm that a new generation of cancer therapeutics and diverse molecular imaging agents for various cancers are more likely than ever before. This article traces the development of tumor-targeting antibodies labeled with diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides, and describes the problems encountered and the clinical advances made. We also emphasize recent attempts to improve both molecular imaging and radioimmunotherapy with multistep pretargeting methods that separate the delivery of the tumor-binding, bispecific antibody given in the first step from the radionuclide carrier, which, in the second step, will localize to the "anti-carrier" binding arm of the pretargeted bispecific antibody.

Chemical modification of M13 bacteriophage and its application in cancer cell imaging

The M13 bacteriophage has been demonstrated to be a robust scaffold for bionanomaterial development. In this paper, we report on the chemical modifications of three kinds of reactive groups, i.e., the amino groups of lysine residues or N-terminal, the carboxylic acid groups of aspartic acid or glutamic acid residues, and the phenol group of tyrosine residues, on M13 surface. The reactivity of each group was identified through conjugation with small fluorescent molecules. Furthermore, the regioselectivity of each reaction was investigated by HPLC-MS-MS. By optimizing the reaction condition, hundreds of fluorescent moieties could be attached to create a highly fluorescent M13 bacteriophage. In addition, cancer cell targeting motifs such as folic acid could also be conjugated onto the M13 surface. Therefore, dual-modified M13 particles with folic acid and fluorescent molecules were synthesized via the selective modification of two kinds of reactive groups. Such dual-modified M13 particles showed very good binding affinity to human KB cancer cells, which demonstrated the potential applications of M13 bacteriophage in bioimaging and drug delivery.

Radioimmunology. Imaging and therapy

Targeting of radioactivity to tumors using antitumor antibodies is evolving from a laboratory curiosity toward a practical diagnostic and therapeutic technique that promises widespread benefits for many common human cancers. The development of the hybridoma technique by Kohler and Milstein for producing monoclonal antibodies is probably the single most important contribution to the development of this field. A large array of monoclonal antibodies against many human tumors have been created and labeled with a variety of radioisotopes; 110 clinical trials have been identified from the literature between the interval of 1978 to the present. These studies are beginning to form the basis for certain conclusions regarding likely benefits for certain combinations of antitumor antibodies and isotopes in specific instances of clinical management in patients with malignant neoplasms. For example, in melanoma, lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and colorectal malignancies, radiolabeled antibodies have demonstrated occult tumors, which could not be disclosed with conventional methodologies. Radioimmunotherapy of malignant lymphoma is achieving durable remissions in patients who have failed conventional forms of therapy. For the most part, these advances have been achieved through intelligent application of known principles of immunochemistry, imaging physics, and tumor immunology. Progress has been slow but steady. In a few instances, the term "magic bullet" is warranted in describing the targeting of a particular radiolabeled antibody to a human tumor. I-131, 3-F8, an IgG3 against the GD2 antigen of neuroblastoma, which was introduced by Cheung, and In-111 T-101, against the CD5 antigen of T-cells, which was developed by Royston, stand out because of the consistency and high concentration of radioactive targeting to human tumors in clinical trials. If certain technical innovations fulfill their initial promise, the future will be bright for radioimmunologic methods of diagnosis and therapy. Genetic engineering will permit the development of "humanized" antibodies with biologic properties that favor tumor localization. New chemical approaches will broaden the range of isotopes available as diagnostic and therapeutic radiolabels. Application of modern imaging methodologies, such as positron emission tomography (PET), will detect more lesions of smaller size and permit quantitative imaging for dosimetry considerations. Greater speed and ease of use of computerized work stations will lead to the broader application of fusion imaging in which radioantibody images will be viewed simultaneously with TCT or MRI for better anatomic correlation of abnormal sites of antigen-reactive tumor deposits.

Approaches to radiolabeling of antibodies for diagnosis and therapy of cancer

The development of monoclonal antibodies of high affinity and selectivity for tumor antigens has supported the development of radiolabeled antibodies for diagnostic localization and targeted delivery of therapeutic radionuclides. Several radionuclide chelating agent systems have been developed for indium-111 and technetium-99m that have shown good sensitivity and specificity for tumor detection in patients. Feasibility for therapy has been shown in animal models and a few patient studies with iodine-131 and yttrium-90. This review covers selection of radionuclides and chemistry of antibody radiolabeling.

Monoclonal antibody modification with chelate-linked high-molecular-weight polymers: major increases in polyvalent cation binding without loss of antigen binding

Polyethyleneimine or polylysines of differing molecular sizes were substituted with either EDTA or DTPA and then with succinic acid groups. These polymers were then reacted with the amino groups on myosin-specific monoclonal antibody or its Fab using a water soluble carbodiimide. The polymer-antibody complexes were capable of binding up to 150 di- or trivalent ions per mole (Mn++, Gd , or 111In ) without attendant loss of antigen binding. The polylysine derivatives of the intact antibody were rapidly cleared and sequestered in the liver, whereas the polylysine 14-kilodalton (kd) derivative of Fab was cleared from the circulation with minimal hepatic and kidney sequestration. This differed from the biodistribution of intact antimyosin or its Fab labeled with 111In via direct attachment of DTPA to the epsilon amino group of the lysyl residues. Applications in magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging are envisioned.

Radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy

The development of monoclonal antibodies that recognize tumor-associated antigens has led to significantly greater practical possibilities for producing highly specific radiolabeled antibodies for diagnosis and therapy of human tumors. A number of problems remain before this technique will be ready for routine clinical application however. Achieving the high target to background ratio that are predicted on theoretical grounds is a major challenge in cancer investigation.