New Insights into Nanoparticle Delivery from the Boehnke Group
The latest research paper by the Boehnke Lab, led by Assistant Professor Natalie Boehnke, introduces an exciting new approach to understanding how nanoparticles interact with biological systems. Her study, titled “Pooled Nanoparticle Screening Using a Chemical Barcoding Approach”, showcases a method that makes it easier and faster to study nanoparticles. This breakthrough could have important implications for areas like drug delivery and cancer treatment.
This work was funded by Professor Boehnke’s NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award. The research is also a collaborative effort with Nathalie Agar’s lab at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Through this collaboration, the team utilized mass spectrometry imaging to detect their barcoded nanoparticles. This advancement is notable because it enables not only the screening of nanoparticles in combinations but also in a spatial manner. This could enable mapping of nanoparticles in the body in the future.
Abstract:
We report the development of a small molecule-based barcoding platform for pooled screening of nanoparticle delivery. Using aryl halide-based tags (halocodes), we achieve high-sensitivity detection via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or electron capture. This enables barcoding and tracking of nanoparticles with minimal halocode concentrations and without altering their physicochemical properties. To demonstrate the utility of our platform for pooled screening, we synthesized a halocoded library of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles and quantified uptake in ovarian cancer cells in a pooled manner. Our findings correlate with conventional fluorescence-based assays. Additionally, we demonstrate the potential of halocodes for spatial mapping of nanoparticles using mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Halocoding presents an accessible and modular nanoparticle screening platform capable of quantifying delivery of pooled nanocarrier libraries in a range of biological settings.
Congratulations to Professor Boehnke and the Boehnke Lab on this latest publication! To learn more about this study and explore additional work from her group, visit the full paper and the Boehnke Lab website.