TY - JOUR A1 - Kader, A. A1 - Brangsch, J. A1 - Reimann, C. A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Mangarova, D. B. A1 - Moeckel, J. A1 - Adams, L. C. A1 - Zhao, J. A1 - Saatz, Jessica A1 - Traub, Heike A1 - Buchholz, R. A1 - Karst, U. A1 - Hamm, B. A1 - Makowski, M. R. T1 - Visualization and Quantification of the Extracellular Matrix in Prostate Cancer Using an Elastin Specific Molecular Probe N2 - One of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men is prostate cancer (PCa). Understanding tumor progression can help diagnose and treat the disease at an early stage. Components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a key role in the development and progression of PCa. Elastin is an essential component of the ECM and constantly changes during tumor development. This article visualizes and quantifies elastin in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a small molecule probe. Results were correlated with histological examinations. Using an elastin-specific molecular probe, we were able to make predictions about the cellular structure in relation to elastin and thus draw conclusions about the size of the tumor, with smaller tumors having a higher elastin content than larger tumors. Human prostate cancer (PCa) is a type of malignancy and one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in men. Elastin is an important component of the extracellular matrix and is involved in the structure and organization of prostate tissue. The present study examined prostate cancer in a xenograft mouse model using an elastin-specific molecular probe for magnetic resonance molecular imaging. Two different tumor sizes (500 mm3 and 1000 mm3) were compared and analyzed by MRI in vivo and histologically and analytically ex vivo. The T1-weighted sequence was used in a clinical 3-T scanner to calculate the relative contrast enhancement before and after probe administration. Our results show that the use of an elastin-specific probe enables better discrimination between tumors and surrounding healthy tissue. Furthermore, specific binding of the probe to elastin fibers was confirmed by histological examination and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Smaller tumors showed significantly higher signal intensity (p > 0.001), which correlates with the higher proportion of elastin fibers in the histological evaluation than in larger tumors. A strong correlation was seen between relative enhancement (RE) and Elastica–van Gieson staining (R2 = 0.88). RE was related to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry data for Gd and showed a correlation (R2 = 0.78). Thus, molecular MRI could become a novel quantitative tool for the early evaluation and detection of PCa. KW - Magnetic resonance imaging KW - MRI KW - Molecular imaging KW - Cancer KW - LA-ICP-MS PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-538410 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10111217 VL - 10 IS - 11 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53841 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Möckel, J. A1 - Brangsch, J. A1 - Reimann, C. A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Sack, I. A1 - Mangarova, D. B. A1 - Kader, A. A1 - Taupitz, M. A1 - Adams, L. C. A1 - Keller, S. A1 - Ludwig, A. A1 - Hamm, B. A1 - Botnar, R. M. A1 - Makowski, M. R. T1 - Assessment of Albumin ECM Accumulation and Inflammation as Novel In Vivo Diagnostic Targets for Multi-Target MR Imaging N2 - Atherosclerosis is a progressive inflammatory vascular disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and plaque burden. Extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated plasma proteins play an important role in disease development. Our magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study investigates the feasibility of using two different molecular MRI probes for the simultaneous assessment of ECM-associated intraplaque albumin deposits caused by endothelial damage and progressive inflammation in atherosclerosis. Male apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-)-mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 2 or 4 months. Another ApoE-/--group was treated with pravastatin and received a HFD for 4 months. T1- and T2*-weighted MRI was performed before and after albumin-specific MRI probe (gadofosveset) administration and a macrophage-specific contrast agent (ferumoxytol). Thereafter, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and histology were performed. With advancing atherosclerosis, albumin-based MRI signal enhancement and ferumoxytol-induced signal loss areas in T2*-weighted MRI increased. Significant correlations between contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) post-gadofosveset and albumin stain (R2 = 0.78, p < 0.05), and signal loss areas in T2*-weighted MRI with Perls’ Prussian blue stain (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.05) were observed. No interference of ferumoxytol with gadofosveset enhancement was detectable. Pravastatin led to decreased inflammation and intraplaque albumin. Multi-target MRI combining ferumoxytol and gadofosveset is a promising method to improve diagnosis and treatment monitoring in atherosclerosis. KW - Magnetic resonance imaging KW - MRI KW - Imaging KW - Human serum albumin KW - Extracellular matrix KW - Macrophages KW - Contrast agent KW - Atherosclerotic plaques KW - Gadofosveset KW - Aneurysm PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-536725 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10100964 VL - 10 IS - 10 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53672 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kader, A. A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Mangarova, D. B. A1 - Moeckel, J. A1 - Adams, L. C. A1 - Brangsch, J. A1 - Heyl, J. L. A1 - Zhao, J. A1 - Verlemann, C. A1 - Karst, U. A1 - Collettini, F. A1 - Auer, T. A. A1 - Hamm, B. A1 - Makowski, M. R. T1 - Collagen-specific molecular magnetic resonance imaging of prostate cancer N2 - Constant interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) influence the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). One of the key components of the ECM are collagen fibers, since they are responsible for the tissue stiffness, growth, adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion/metastasis, cell signaling, and immune recruitment of tumor cells. To explore this molecular marker in the content of PCa, we investigated two different tumor volumes (500 mm3 and 1000 mm3) of a xenograft mouse model of PCa with molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a collagen-specific probe. For in vivo MRI evaluation, T1-weighted sequences before and after probe administration were analyzed. No significant signal difference between the two tumor volumes could be found. However, we detected a significant difference between the signal intensity of the peripheral tumor area and the central area of the tumor, at both 500 mm3 (p < 0.01, n = 16) and at 1000 mm3 (p < 0.01, n = 16). The results of our histologic analyses confirmed the in vivo studies: There was no significant difference in the amount of collagen between the two tumor volumes (p > 0.05), but within the tumor, higher collagen expression was observed in the peripheral area compared with the central area of the tumor. Laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry further confirmed these results. The 1000 mm3 tumors contained 2.8 +- 1.0% collagen and the 500 mm3 tumors contained 3.2 +- 1.2% (n = 16). There was a strong correlation between the in vivo MRI data and the ex vivo histological data (y = 0.068x + 1.1; R2 = 0.74) (n = 16). The results of elemental analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry supported the MRI data (y = 3.82x + 0.56; R2 = 0.79; n = 7). MRI with the collagen-specific probe in PCa enables differentiation between different tumor areas. This may help to differentiate tumor from healthy tissue, potentially identifying tumor areas with a specific tumor biology. KW - Molecular imaging KW - Magnetic resonance imaging KW - MRI KW - Prostate cancer KW - Collagen KW - Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy KW - EP-3533 KW - Peptide probe KW - Gd-DOTA KW - Contrast agent KW - Tumor PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-568449 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010711 SN - 1422-0067 SN - 1661-6596 VL - 24 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-56844 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Brangsch, J. A1 - Kader, A. A1 - Saatz, Jessica A1 - Mangarova, D. B. A1 - Zacharias, M. A1 - Kempf, W. E. A1 - Schwaar, T. A1 - Wilke, Marco A1 - Adams, L. C. A1 - Möckel, J. A1 - Botnar, R. M. A1 - Taupitz, M. A1 - Mägdefessel, L. A1 - Traub, Heike A1 - Hamm, B. A1 - Weller, Michael G. A1 - Makowski, M. R. T1 - ADAMTS4-specific MR-probe to assess aortic aneurysms in vivo using synthetic peptide libraries N2 - The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has substantially increased during the last 20 years and their rupture remains the third most common cause of sudden death in the cardiovascular field after myocardial infarction and stroke. The only established clinical parameter to assess AAAs is based on the aneurysm size. Novel biomarkers are needed to improve the assessment of the risk of rupture. ADAMTS4 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin motifs 4) is a strongly upregulated proteoglycan cleaving enzyme in the unstable course of AAAs. In the screening of a one-bead-one-compound library against ADAMTS4, a low-molecular-weight cyclic peptide is discovered with favorable properties for in vivo molecular magnetic resonance imaging applications. After identification and characterization, it’s potential is evaluated in an AAA mouse model. The ADAMTS4-specific probe enables the in vivo imaging-based prediction of aneurysm expansion and rupture. KW - Peptide KW - Peptide library KW - OBOC library KW - Combinatorial chemistry KW - Peptide aptamers KW - Binding molecule KW - Affinity KW - Synthetic peptides KW - Contrast agent KW - Magnetic resonance imaging KW - One-bead-one-compound library KW - On-chip screening KW - Lab-on-a-chip KW - MALDI-TOF MS KW - SPR KW - Surface plasmon resonance KW - Alanine scan KW - Fluorescence label KW - MST KW - Docking KW - Chelate PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-560930 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30464-8 VL - 13 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - Springer Nature Limited CY - Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-56093 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tscheuschner, Georg A1 - Ponader, Marco A1 - Raab, Christopher A1 - Weider, Prisca S. A1 - Hartfiel, Reni A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Völzke, Jule L. A1 - Bosc-Bierne, Gaby A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Schwaar, T. A1 - Andrle, Paul A1 - Bäßler, Henriette A1 - Nguyen, Khoa A1 - Zhu, Y. A1 - Mey, A. S. J. S. A1 - Mostafa, A. A1 - Bald, I. A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - Efficient Purification of Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus by a Novel Peptide Aptamer N2 - The cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) is a plant virus explored as a nanotechnological platform. The robust self-assembly mechanism of its capsid protein allows for drug encapsulation and targeted delivery. Additionally, the capsid nanoparticle can be used as a programmable platform to display different molecular moieties. In view of future applications, efficient production and purification of plant viruses are key steps. In established protocols, the need for ultracentrifugation is a significant limitation due to cost, difficult scalability, and safety issues. In addition, the purity of the final virus isolate often remains unclear. Here, an advanced protocol for the purification of the CCMV from infected plant tissue was developed, focusing on efficiency, economy, and final purity. The protocol involves precipitation with PEG 8000, followed by affinity extraction using a novel peptide aptamer. The efficiency of the protocol was validated using size exclusion chromatography, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, reversed-phase HPLC, and sandwich immunoassay. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the final eluate of the affinity column is of exceptional purity (98.4%) determined by HPLC and detection at 220 nm. The scale-up of our proposed method seems to be straightforward, which opens the way to the large-scale production of such nanomaterials. This highly improved protocol may facilitate the use and implementation of plant viruses as nanotechnological platforms for in vitro and in vivo applications. N2 - Das Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV) ist ein Pflanzenvirus, das als nanotechnologische Plattform erforscht wird. Der robuste Selbstorganisationsmechanismus seines Kapsidproteins ermöglicht die Verkapselung und gezielte Abgabe von Medikamenten. Darüber hinaus kann das Kapsid-Nanopartikel als programmierbare Plattform für die Präsentation verschiedener molekularer Komponenten verwendet werden. Im Hinblick auf künftige Anwendungen ist eine effiziente Produktion und Reinigung von Pflanzenviren von entscheidender Bedeutung. In etablierten Protokollen stellt die notwendige Ultrazentrifugation aufgrund von Kosten, schwieriger Skalierbarkeit und Sicherheitsaspekten eine erhebliche Einschränkung dar. Darüber hinaus bleibt die Reinheit des endgültigen Virusisolats oft unklar. Hier wurde ein fortschrittliches Protokoll für die Reinigung von CCMV aus infiziertem Pflanzengewebe entwickelt, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf Effizienz, Wirtschaftlichkeit und Reinheit lag. Das Protokoll beinhaltet eine Fällung mit Polyethylenglycol (PEG 8000), gefolgt von einer Affinitätsextraktion mit einem neuartigen Peptid-Aptamer. Die Effizienz des Protokolls wurde mithilfe von Größenausschluss-Chromatographie (SEC), MALDI-TOF-Massenspektrometrie, Umkehrphasen-HPLC und Sandwich-Immunoassay validiert. Darüber hinaus wurde nachgewiesen, dass das endgültige Eluat der Affinitätssäule eine außergewöhnliche Reinheit (98,4 %) aufweist, die durch HPLC und Detektion bei 220 nm bestimmt wurde. Die Skalierung der von uns vorgeschlagenen Methode scheint einfach zu sein, was den Weg für eine größer angelegte Produktion solcher Nanomaterialien ebnet. Dieses stark verbesserte Protokoll könnte die Verwendung und Umsetzung von Pflanzenviren als nanotechnologische Plattformen für In-vitro- und In-vivo-Anwendungen erleichtern. KW - Affinity chromatography KW - Nanoparticles KW - Nanoscience KW - Carrier protein KW - Encapsulation KW - Combinatorial peptide library KW - Peptide binder KW - Vigna unguiculata KW - Augenbohne KW - Schlangenbohne KW - Pflanzenvirus KW - Plant virus KW - Upscaling KW - Commercialization KW - Reference material KW - Nanocarrier PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-572645 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030697 VL - 15 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 24 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, Schweiz AN - OPUS4-57264 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fischer, Janina A1 - Kaufmann, Jan Ole A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - Simple Determination of Affinity Constants of Antibodies by Competitive Immunoassays N2 - The affinity constant, also known as the equilibrium constant, binding constant, equilibrium association constant, or the reciprocal value, the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), can be considered as one of the most important characteristics for any antibody–antigen pair. Many methods based on different technologies have been proposed and used to determine this value. However, since a very large number of publications and commercial datasheets do not include this information, significant obstacles in performing such measurements seem to exist. In other cases where such data are reported, the results have often proved to be unreliable. This situation may indicate that most of the technologies available today require a high level of expertise and effort that does not seem to be available in many laboratories. In this paper, we present a simple approach based on standard immunoassay technology that is easy and quick to perform. It relies on the effect that the molar IC50 approaches the Kd value in the case of infinitely small concentrations of the reagents. A two-dimensional dilution of the reagents leads to an asymptotic convergence to Kd. The approach has some similarity to the well-known checkerboard titration used for the optimization of immunoassays. A well-known antibody against the FLAG peptide, clone M2, was used as a model system and the results were compared with other methods. This approach could be used in any case where a competitive assay is available or can be developed. The determination of an affinity constant should belong to the crucial parameters in any quality control of antibody-related products and assays and should be mandatory in papers using immunochemical protocols. N2 - Die Affinitätskonstante, auch bekannt als Gleichgewichtskonstante, Bindungskonstante, Gleichgewichtsassoziationskonstante oder der reziproke Wert, die Gleichgewichtsdissoziationskonstante (Kd), kann als eine der wichtigsten Eigenschaften für jedes Antikörper-Antigen-Paar angesehen werden. Zur Bestimmung dieses Wertes wurden zahlreiche Methoden auf der Grundlage verschiedener Technologien vorgeschlagen und verwendet. Da jedoch eine sehr große Anzahl von Veröffentlichungen und kommerziellen Datenblätter diese Information nicht enthalten, scheint es erhebliche Hindernisse bei der Durchführung solcher Messungen zu geben. In anderen Fällen, in denen solche Daten angegeben werden, haben sich die Ergebnisse häufig als unzuverlässig erwiesen. Diese Situation könnte darauf hindeuten, dass die meisten der heute verfügbaren Technologien ein hohes Maß an Fachwissen und Aufwand erfordern, das in vielen Labors nicht vorhanden zu sein scheint. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir einen einfachen Ansatz vor, der auf der Standard-Immunoassay-Technologie basiert und einfach und schnell durchführbar ist. Er beruht auf dem Effekt, dass sich der molare IC50 bei unendlich kleinen Reagenz-Konzentrationen dem Kd-Wert annähert. Eine zweidimensionale Verdünnung der Reagenzien führt zu einer asymptotischen Konvergenz zu Kd. Der Ansatz hat eine gewisse Ähnlichkeit mit der bekannten Checkerboard-Titration, die zur Optimierung von Immunoassays verwendet wird. Ein bekannter Antikörper gegen das FLAG-Peptid, Klon M2, wurde als Modellsystem verwendet, und die Ergebnisse wurden mit anderen Methoden verglichen. Dieser Ansatz kann überall dort angewendet werden, wo ein kompetitiver Assay verfügbar ist oder entwickelt werden kann. Die Bestimmung einer Affinitätskonstante sollte zu den entscheidenden Parametern bei der Qualitätskontrolle von Antikörperprodukten und -assays gehören und in Arbeiten, die immunchemische Protokolle verwenden, obligatorisch sein. KW - ELISA KW - Competitive immunoassay KW - IC50 KW - Test midpoint KW - Point of inflection KW - Equilibrium constant KW - Dissociation constant KW - Binding strength KW - Antibody antigen complex KW - Bio-interaction KW - SPR KW - Surface-plasmon resonance KW - FLAG peptide KW - Clone M2 KW - Antibody quality PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-605607 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/mps7030049 SN - 2409-9279 VL - 7 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-60560 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -