Peptide Conjugation for Scientific Research Tools
* Please kindly note that our products and services can only be used to support research purposes (Not for clinical use).
Online Inquiry
By conjugating peptides to different molecules or materials, researchers have developed advanced scientific tools for biomedical research, drug screening, and molecular imaging. Here are a few examples of the application of peptide conjugation in scientific research tools.
There are abundant proteins in different functional organelles of living cells, and the expression or activity of related proteins will be affected once the body undergoes changes. For example, we prepared probe 1 (called TP-GRP78-TPE-TO-ER) by conjugating the endoplasmic reticular-associated GRP78-targeting peptide sequence SNTRVAPRRRRC (TP-GRP78) and the toluene sulfonamide group (TO-ER) specifically targeted by the endoplasmic reticulum TO and TP scaffold as a rotor-type fluorescent molecule. Through the analysis and detection results in living cells, it was proved that the probe model can effectively identify different subtypes of HCC cells with different protein expression levels.
Fig.1 Peptide-conjugated probe TP-TPE-TO for live cell imaging. (Wu Xia, et al., 2024)
Biomarker Testing
Proteins are often detected as biomarkers to track or identify various diseases in an organism. Due to the good stability and selective affinity of short peptides, peptide-based electrochemical biosensors (PBEBs) are a novel method for detecting different protein biomarkers. For example, protein kinase A (PKA) is the most commonly detected kinase because of its importance as a cancer biomarker. Hu's team reported a good example of detecting PKA activity by signaling on PBEB. In this work, we present an ultra-sensitive peptide-based electrochemical biosensor to detect protein kinase activity by using reversible addition-break chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a signal amplification strategy with detection limits as low as 1.05 mU mL-1. In addition, peptide-based biosensors can be used to detect enzyme activity, antibodies, and other proteins. Peptide conjugation technology has also shown a wide range of applications in the development of detection and screening tools.
Table 1. Peptide conjugation service at Creative Peptides
Used for angiography and osteogram
Peptide-nanoparticle complexes (PNCs) are the latest advances in imaging nanoprobes for different applications, including near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and multimodal imaging. CT scans, for example, rely on multiple X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues in the body. Gold nanoparticles(AuNPs) are one of the most commonly used imaging agents in CT scans, and peptide-conjugated AuNPs have been used as selective CT contrast agents. Zhu's team modified AuNP-embedded dendritic polymers (AuDENPs) with RGD peptides and applied these nanoprobes to CT tumor imaging. The X-ray attenuation of AuDENPs is better than that of OmnipaqueTM a commonly used CT imaging agent.
As mentioned above, there are many application examples that demonstrate the potential of PNCs as imaging contrast agents for various modalities. Although its potential toxicity and bioinstability need to be addressed for successful clinical translation, PNC-based molecular imaging holds great promise in innovating current diagnostic and therapeutic platforms.
Transport carrier
As a transport carrier, peptides can effectively deliver biological macromolecules and are important scientific research tools. Through the specificity and stability of peptides, scientists are able to study the function and interactions of biomolecules more precisely. In 2020, Kang's research team proposed a non-covalent form of the cell-penetrating peptide pVEC (LLIILRRRIRKQAHAHSK)-mediated ribonucleoprotein delivery system in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using this technically simple method, ribonucleoproteins (Cas9/sgRNA complexes) were successfully delivered into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This research will not only contribute to the further application of algal cell biology and its genetic engineering but will also provide a deeper understanding of the basic science of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.
Summary
Peptide conjugation technology has shown important application potential in the fields of molecular diagnostics, live-cell assays, and biomarker assays. By conjugating peptides to various molecular markers or probes, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay can be significantly improved, which in turn will advance the use of these techniques in scientific research and clinical diagnostics. With the continuous advancement of technology, peptide conjugation technology has broad prospects in the development of scientific research tools in the future, and can provide strong support for precision medicine and biomedical research.
References
- Wu, Xia, et al., A Universal and Programmable Platform based on Fluorescent Peptide‐Conjugated Probes for Detection of Proteins in Organelles of Living Cells. Angewandte Chemie 136.17 (2024): e202400766.
- Vanova, Veronika, et al., Peptide-based electrochemical biosensors utilized for protein detection. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 180 (2021): 113087.
- Hu, Qiong, et al., Ultrasensitive peptide-based electrochemical detection of protein kinase activity amplified by RAFT polymerization. Talanta 206 (2020): 120173.
- Jeong, Woo-jin, et a., Peptide-nanoparticle conjugates: a next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic platforms? Nano Convergence 5 (2018): 1-18.
- Zhu, Jingyi, et al., Dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles modified with RGD peptide and alpha-tocopheryl succinate enable targeted theranostics of cancer cells. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 133 (2015): 36-42.
- Kang, Seongsu, et al., Development of a pVEC peptide-based ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery system for genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Scientific Reports 10.1 (2020): 22158.
