Nanozymes Can Help Diagnose Hormones and Blood Diseases

15:49, January 11, 2024

Scientists have obtained nanoparticles that can colorize previously colorless molecules

Scientists have developed nanoparticles called nanozymes, which are used as markers in molecular-biological analyses to tint colorless substrates such as antibodies, antigens, and hormones in diagnostics. Nanozymes have higher signal stability and are relatively inexpensive compared to their natural counterparts. The use of nanozymes in the future is expected to reduce the cost of various medical tests and improve their quality. The article describing the characteristics of nanozymes and working methods was published in Molecules. The research was supported by the Russian National Foundation (grant No. 22-24-20091) and the Perm Krai government.

"Efforts are currently focused on replacing natural enzymes with synthetic nanomaterials - nanozymes. This is primarily done to reduce the cost of colorimetric assays and to make molecule staining kits less sensitive to storage conditions. The nanozymes we have obtained are up to this task, as they have good catalytic properties and are not inferior to their natural analog - horseradish peroxidase - in terms of efficiency and signal stability," explains Artem Minin, Assistant at the Department of Biology and Fundamental Medicine at the UrFU.

Biologically active molecules are present in the body in minute quantities, making their detection challenging. Enzyme immunoassay is utilized to detect these molecules. The method involves the binding of specific proteins-antibodies to the target molecules. To detect the bound antibodies, horseradish peroxidase, an enzyme, is used. This enzyme catalyzes a chemical reaction that results in the production of color. The presence and amount of the desired substances in the sample can be determined by the extent of color change, which is directly proportional to the number of target molecules that bind to the antibodies.

"Horseradish peroxide has its drawbacks, which are related to the complexity of its production. For instance, the production of nanozymes does not require complex biotechnological equipment with increased sterility. Chemical equipment, although not the most advanced, is sufficient. The nanozymes obtained were synthesized from Prussian blue, an inexpensive dye," says Artem Minin.

Prussian blue is a blue dye that was commonly used in the textile industry in the past. However, it now has applications in the medical field. Nanoparticles were synthesized from Prussian blue using hydrogen peroxide and citric acid. The resulting nanozymes, which are approximately 200 nanometers in size, exhibit high catalytic activity.

"The study showed that Prussian blue has a high level of peroxidase activity, meaning that the dye's enzymes can catalyze the oxidation of substances. This property is shared with horseradish peroxidase. The effectiveness of nanozymes derived from Prussian blue has been confirmed through their use in various immuno-staining methods, such as tissue staining, immunoglobulin analysis, and coronavirus antibody testing," Artem Minin concludes.

The study was carried out jointly with the Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Perm State University, M. N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Immunology and Physiology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Reference

Berlin blue, also known as Prussian blue, is a synthetic pigment that was created by chemist Johann Jacob Diesbach in Berlin during the 18th century. It was the first permanent artificial blue dye that was widely used in painting. Currently, Prussian blue is utilized in various applications, such as paint and printing, as well as in the ceramics and glass industries.

The blood tests market size was $75 billion in 2022, and it is projected to reach $142 billion by 2032, according to Global Market Insights. The market is expected to grow due to factors such as the increase in chronic diseases, the growing demand for home healthcare services, and the rising research expenditure in the field of blood tests.

Sergey Lukyanchenko

The news article was translated by UrFU International Marketing Office.
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