Protein corona-resistant SERS tags for live cell detection of integrin receptors.

ABSTRACT: Chemical signals are conveyed to cells through ligand-receptor binding, triggering cascades of biochemical reactions and resulting in pivotal cellular functions. These binding events are important in understanding membrane signaling and drug interactions. To probe ligand-receptor binding, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags are a promising tool. SERS tags are plasmonic nanostructures functionalized with a protective coating, a Raman reporter molecule, and a biorecognition element. In biological fluids, native proteins have affinity for bare nanoparticles and form a protein corona. SERS tags have a protective shell which eliminates this complication. It is important to analyze ligand-receptor binding with SERS tags in live cells since cell fixatives alter protein structure, leadin

SUBMITTER: Sloan-Dennison S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6733675 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature