Deepanjalee Dutta

Bimetallic silver nanoparticle–gold nanocluster embedded composite nanoparticles for cancer theranostics

A bimetallic silver nanoparticle based gold nanocluster module has been developed for theranostic cellular application by a rapid and simple galvanic exchange method. The use of chitosan as a template has helped to convert the bimetallic system into composite nanoparticles, which can be easily delivered into cancer cells. The synthesized composite nanoparticles offer the advantage of combinatorial properties of the metals present in two different nanoscale levels enabling both killing and bioimaging of cancer cells. Detailed molecular events of cell death were illustrated for this combined module to decipher apoptotic mediated cell death.

Single Platform for Gene and Protein Expression Analyses Using Luminescent Gold Nanoclusters

A single platform for gene and protein expression studies is proposed to pursue rapid diagnostics. A common method to synthesize gold (Au) nanoclusters on both DNA and protein template was developed using a benchtop device. The method of synthesis is rapid and versatile and can be applied to different classes of DNA/protein. Employing luminescent Au nanoclusters as the signal-generating agents, the device enables carrying out reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and array-based analyses of multiple genes/proteins simultaneously using switchable holders and custom-designed software. The device and methods were applied to evaluate gene profiling related to apoptosis in HeLa cancer cells and further to analyze the protein expressions of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and GST-tagged human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GST-hGMCSF) recombinant proteins purified from bacterial strains of BL21(DE3) Escherichia coli (E. coli). The device with user-friendly methods for diagnosis using the luminescence of Au nanoclusters offers potential use in disease diagnostics with a vision to extend health care facilities especially to remote geographical locations.

Phenylboronic Acid Templated Gold Nanoclusters for Mucin Detection Using a Smartphone-Based Device and Targeted Cancer Cell Theranostics

A phenylboronic acid templated gold nanocluster probe was developed to detect biomarker mucin by a noninvasive fluorescence-based method using a point-of-care smartphone-based fluorescence detection device. The gold nanocluster probe is able to detect mucin specifically. The same probe was applied for in vitro targeted bioimaging of HeLa and Hep G2 cancer cells, and it demonstrated specific therapeutic effects toward cancer cells as well as multicellular tumor spheroids imparting theranostic properties. The module is found to be more effective toward HeLa cells, and a pathway of cell death was established using flow-cytometry-based assays.

Phytaspase-loaded, Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots when embedded into chitosan nanoparticles leads to improved chemotherapy of HeLa cells using in cisplatin

ObjectivesTo investigate the potential of recombinant phytaspase loaded manganese (Mn) doped zinc sulphide (ZnS) quantum dots embedded chitosan nanoparticles for augmenting cisplatin induced chemotherapy of HeLa cells.ResultsThe recombinant phytaspase was cloned into bacterial expression vector PGEX-4T-2. The expressed and purified recombinant plant phytaspase protein from Escherichia coli BL21 was immobilized onto the cationic nanocomposite. Confocal microscopy elucidated the delivery of these luminescent nanocomposites inside cervical cancer HeLa cells. A 50% reduction in the viability of HeLa cells was achieved only in the case of phytaspase–nanocomposites–cisplatin combination at a dose of phytaspase (42 nM), nanocomposites (56.3 μg/ml) and cisplatin (0.44 μg/ml).ConclusionLuminescent cationic nanocomposites were developed for intracellular delivery of recombinant phytaspase, which due to its caspase-like activity assisted in substantiating the chemotherapeutic activity of apoptosis inducing drug-cisplatin.