Chemical functionalization of haptens, antigens and antibodies with suitable linkers for the decoration of carrier proteins or nanomaterials (peptides, dendrons, nanoparticles). Methods for the preparation of metal and organic nanoparticles in physiological media. Currently used strategies for the bioconjugation of haptens, antigens and antibodies to selected carriers and applications of bioconjugated materials in theranostics.
Handouts and bibliographic material prepared by the teachers and provided in the classroom
Learning Objectives
The student will learn the main principles and techniques for the conjugation of biomolecules to multivalent scaffolds. The student will acquire the know how to perform bioconjugation reactions and to purify the biosystems obtained. The physico-chemical characterization will be carried out with a multidisciplinary approach allowing the student to become familiar with spectroscopic techniques and analysis typical of organic chemistry but also with advanced methods of nanomaterial structural analysis in collaboration with other courses such as "Experimental methods for the study of nanostructured materials"
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry is required.
Recommended courses: Advanced synthetic methods, Organic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry
Teaching Methods
Lectures and laboratory training
CFU: 6
Number of total hours of the course: 150 (= 6 x 25)
Number of hours for personal study and other individual training activities: 94
Number of hours related to classroom activities: 32 hours of lectures
Number of hours related to experimental work activities: 24 hours of laboratory practice
Further information
Lessons attendance: although not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.
Teaching tools: on-line course on the Moodle platform (http://e-l.unifi.it/) where you can download the material projected in class (to register you need a password that can be requested to teachers).
Type of Assessment
Report on the experimental part carried out in the laboratory. Written test on the topics of the course or oral exam.
Course program
Methods for the preparation and decoration of metal and organic nanoparticles in physiological media. Strategies for the bioconjugation of nanomaterials, incorporation of bioactive compounds (genetic material, drugs, haptens, antigens, antibodies), development of specific probes (imaging agents, MRI-active agents, synthetic antigens, radionuclides, optical probes etc).
Main strategies requiring specific and selective technologies at the interface between organic chemistry and materials science. Modern applications in biomedicine: therapy (gene delivery, smart release of drugs etc..) and diagnostics (synthetic antigen antibodies, molecular imaging, etc).
Lectures:
• Methods for the functionalization of haptens, antigens, antibodies: suitable protections for a convenient activation of functional groups.
• Methods for multi-haptens and antigens presentation: orthogonal activation of different epitopes.
• Methods for the synthesis, characterization and purification of bifunctional linkers suitable for biocompatible reactions.
• Methods for the preparation of stable dispersions of multivalent nanoparticles in biocompatible media. Examples of glyconanotechnology.
• Biofunctionalization, bioconjugation and characterization of nanomaterials (AuNPs, QDs, Iron Oxide NPs, liposomes, dendrimers, among others).
• Application of bionanomaterials in biomedicine (theranostics)
Laboratory practice:
• Synthesis, purification and characterization of bifunctional linkers.
• Functionalization of a hapten/epitope of biological relevance with the thiol-ending linker
• Preparation of gold nanoparticles of different size in water
• Conjugation of the thiol-ending biomolecules to the nanoparticles
• Characterization of conjugated biomolecules and biomaterials by modern techniques (TEM, cryo-TEM, NMR, UV etc..)