We have previously developed an antibody fusion protein composed of a mouse/human chimeric IgG3 specific for the human transferrin receptor genetically fused to avidin (anti-hTfR IgG3-Av) as a universal delivery system for cancer therapy. This fusion protein efficiently delivers biotinylated FITC into cancer cells via TfR-mediated endocytosis. In addition, anti-hTfR IgG3-Av alone exhibits intri...

Tumor targeting by oligomers is largely limited by the pharmacokinetics and cell-membrane transport obstacles. In this article, we describe the use of a delivery nanoparticle, in which streptavidin served as a convenient bridge between a biotinylated oligomer and a biotinylated cell-membrane-penetrating peptide, to improve the delivery of an antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino (MORF) oligom...

Combining two or more different imaging modalities in the same agent can be of considerable value in molecular imaging. We describe the use of streptavidin nanoparticle-based complexes as multimodality imaging agents to achieve tumor detection in a mouse model by both fluorescence and nuclear imaging. Up to four biotinylated functionalities can be readily attached to these streptavidin nanopart...

The classical laboratory tests for exposure to organophosphorus toxicants (OP) are inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity in blood. In a search for new biomarkers of OP exposure, we treated mice with a biotinylated organophosphorus agent, FP-biotin. The biotinylated proteins in muscle were purified by binding to avidin-Sepharose, separated by gel ele...

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a key role in regulation of chondrocyte metabolism. We examined the localization of IGF-1 binding sites on chondrocytes in cartilage from normal and experimentally induced arthritic mouse knee joints. Cryostat sections from patellar cartilage were incubated either with IGF-1 receptor antibody or biotinylated IGF-1. Subsequently confocal laser scanning ...

The development of tools for efficient targeting of antigens to antigen presenting cells is of great importance for vaccine development. We have previously shown that fusion proteins containing antigens fused to the extra domain A from fibronectin (EDA), an endogenous TLR4 ligand, which targets antigens to TLR4-expressing dendritic cells (DC), are highly immunogenic. To facilitate the procedure...

We have synthesized a novel stable precursor, saligenin phosphorotrichloridate, which, on reaction with N-monobiotinyldiamines, generates a series of biotinylated covalent inhibitors of serine esterases. A homologue designated S9B [1-(saligenin cyclic phospho)-9-biotinyldiaminononane] was selected to allow detection and rapid isolation of neuropathy target esterase (NTE). This enzyme is the pri...

The properties of keratin-containing intermediate filament (IF) networks in vivo were studied following the microinjection of biotinylated keratin. Keratin-IFs were biotinylated, disassembled, and separated into type I and type II proteins by ion exchange chromatography. Recombination of these derivatized type I and type II keratins resulted in the formation of 10-nm diameter IF. The type I ker...

The magnetic release of catalytically active enzymes from vesicular compartments within aggregated nanomaterials has been demonstrated. These nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticle-vesicle aggregates (MNPVs), were formed by the self-assembly of biotinylated silica-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, biotinylated vesicles and tetrameric avidin. The unique features of nanoscale magnetite allow adhesion bet...

Although inserting exogenous viral genome segments into rotavirus particles remains a hard challenge, this study describes the in vivo incorporation of a recombinant viral capsid protein (VP6) into newly assembled rotavirus particles. In vivo biotinylation technology was exploited to biotinylate a recombinant VP6 protein fused to a 15 aa biotin-acceptor peptide (BAP) by the bacterial biotin lig...