

Description
Numeroustechniqueshavebeendevelopedtoprepareimmunoliposomesbasedonthenucleophilicreactivityoffreeaminegroupsofproteinsorpeptides.However,themostcommon,versatileandstraightforwardactivationchemistryforcreatingreactiveacylatingreagentsandlabelingpeptides/proteinsistoformNHSesterwithprimaryamines.AsinglestepnucleophilicsubstitutionreactionbetweenNHSesterderivativeandalphaaminesattheNterminalorthebetaaminesoflysinesidechainsleadstotheformationofastableamidebond.
N-Hydroxysuccinimide(NHS)estersofDSPE-PEG-NHSliposomesreactwiththeprimaryaminegroupsonthepeptides,proteins,antibodiesorotherfunctionalligandsfortargeteddrugdeliveryapplications.ThenucleophilicattackoftheaminegroupsontheNHS-activatedcarbonylgroupoftheDSPE-PEG-NHSresultsintheeliminationoftheNHSgroupandformationofamidelinkage.
Immunodox®-NHSisaPEGylatedproduct.Forotheraminereactive(PEGylatedandnon-PEGyalatedproducts)andalsoImmunodox®productssuitableforothertypesconjugationmethodsseehere.

FORMULATIONINFORMATION
Immunodox®-NHS(PEGylated)(Post-insertion)
PostInsertionKit(3Vials) | Specification |
---|---|
Vial1 | PreformedDoxorubicinLiposomescomposedofHSPCandCholesterol(60:40molarratio) |
Vial2 | DSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSlipid(reactivePEGylatedlipid)inpowderform |
Vial3 | DSPE-PEG(2000)lipid(non-reactivePEGylatedlipid)inpowderform |
LipidCompositionforVial1* | Concentration(mg/ml) | Concentration(mM) | MolarRatioPercentage |
---|---|---|---|
HydrogenatedSoyPC | 11.5 | 14.66 | 60 |
Cholesterol | 3.83 | 9.9 | 40 |
Total | 15.33mg/ml | 24.56mM | 100 |
*Forthe5-mlkit,thevolumeofvial1is4ml.1mlofmicellesolutionthatareformedusingvials2and3willbeaddedtothisvialtomakethefinalvolumeof5mlinthefinalproduct.Forthe2-mlkit,thevolumeofvial1is1.6ml.0.4mlofmicellesolutionthatisformedusingvials2and3willbeaddedtothisvialtomakethefinalvolumeof2mlinthefinalproduct. |
Buffers,LiposomeSizeandEncapsulatedDrugConcentrationforVial1 | Specification |
---|---|
InsideBuffer | AmmoniumSulfate |
OutsideBuffer | PhosphateBufferedSaline |
pH | 7.4 |
LiposomeSize | 100nm |
EncapsulatedDoxorubicin | 2mg/ml(3.45mM) |
Vial2* | Specification |
---|---|
DSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSLipid | ThisvialcontainsreactiveDSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSlipidinpowderform.Thislipidisconjugatedtoareactiveprotein,peptideorligandcontainingamineandthenmixedwithnon-reactiveDSPE-PEG(2000)lipidinaqueoussolutiontoformmicelles.ThePEGylatedlipidmicellesareincubatedwithpreformedliposomesinvial1andPEGlipidswillpost-insertthemselvesintotheliposomes.![]() |
*TheamountofthepowderedPEG(2000)-NHSlipidforthe2-mlkitis1.34mgandforthe5-mlkitis3.34mg. |
Vial3* | Specification |
---|---|
DSPE-PEG(2000)Lipid | Thisvialcontainsnon-reactiveDSPE-PEG(2000)lipidinpowderform.ThislipidinmixedwithDSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSlipidwhichisalreadyconjugatedtoaligand(protein,peptide,etc.)inaqueoussolutiontoformmicelles.ThePEGylatedlipidmicellesareincubatedwithpreformedliposomesinvial1andPEGlipidswillpost-insertthemselvesintotheliposomes.![]() |
*TheamountofthepowderedPEG(2000)-DSPElipidforthe2-mlkitis5mgandforthe5-mlkitis12.5mg. |
ConjugationProtocol
MaterialsandEquipment
The3-vialpost-insertionkitcontainspreformedliposomes(vial1),non-reactivePEGylatedlipidinpowderform(vial2)andDSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSlipidinpowderform(vial3). Inordertousethepost-insertionkit,youwillneed:
- Laboratoryvortexmixerisrecommendedtohave.
- Laboratorymagneticstirrerisneededfordialysis.
- Twosmall10mlroundbottomflasksortwosmallglassvials.
- Arotaryevaporator. Weunderstandthatmanylabsmightnothavearotovap.Alternatively,youcanuseanitrogentankconnectedtoathinhoseforcreatingastreamofnitrogenflowtodrythelipidandmakeathinfilm.
- Asmallamountofasolventsuchachloroformormethylenechloride(youwillonlyneedafewmilliliters).
- Phosphatebufferedsaline(PBS).
- ASonicator.Itisbettertohaveabathsonicator.Ifyoudonot,thatisfine.Youstillcanfollowtheprotocol.Youmayalsouseavortexinsteadofthesonicatorforagitationofthesolutionaswell.
- Float-A-Lyzer®withaproperMWCOthateasilyallowsthecleanupofyourliposomeconjugatedligandfromfreeandnon-conjugatedprotein,peptideorantibody.YouneedtomakesurethattheMWCOisbelow1,000,000dalton.At1,000,000daltontheporesizeonthedialysismembranegetscloseto100nmandthereforeyourliposomescanbedialyzedout.Youcannotusedialysiscassettesblindly.Pleaseunderstandthetechniquebeforeusingeitherspincolumnordialysiscassette.IfyoudonotusethecorrectMWCOyoucanloseyourentireprep.ForthisprotocolwerecommendMWCOof300,000dalton.
PreparationMethod
- Thepost-insertionkitscomeintwosizes;2mland5ml.Forthe2mlkitsize,dissolvethecontentofvial3in100µlofchloroformormethylenechloride.Forthe5mlkitsize,thecontentofvial3shouldbedissolvedin250µlofchloroformormethylenechloride.Transferthesolutiontoa10mlroundbottomflask.Drythechloroformusingarotaryevaporatororunderastreamofnitrogenandmakeadriedlipidfilm.
- Forthe2mlkit,add100µlofPBSbuffertothedriedlipidfilm.Forthe5mlkit,theamountoftheaddedbufferis250µl.Itispreferredtosonicatethehydratedlipidfilmusingabathsonicatorandsonicatethemicellesolutionfor5minutes.IfyoudonothaveabathsonicatorthenhydratethedriedlipidfilmwithPBSforatleast1hourandconstantlyrotatethesolutionintheroundbottomflaskusingarotavap(notconnectedtovacuum)orbyhandtomakesurethatallthedriedlipidonthewalloftheroundbottomflaskwillgotothesolutionandformmicelles.Alternatively,youcanuseavortextoagitatethesolution.Thegoalistohaveallthedriedlipidonthewalloftheroundbottomglasstogothemicellesolution.CoverthemouthoftheroundbottomflaskwithParafilm.Refrigeratethemicellesolutionofnon-reactivePEGlipidsuntilitisreadytobemixedwithmicellesformedinstep4.
- For2mlpost-insertionkit,theamountofDSPE-PEG-NHSis1.34mg(0.22µmol)andfor5mlofpost-insertionkittheamountofDSPE-PEG-NHSis3.34mg(0.55µmol).Forthe2mlkitsize,dissolvethecontentofvial2in100µlofchloroformormethylenechloride.Forthe5mlkitsize,thecontentofvial2shouldbedissolvedin250µlofchloroformormethylenechloride.Transferthesolutiontoa10mlroundbottomflask.Drythechloroformusingarotaryevaporatororunderastreamofnitrogen.
- Addthewater-solubleprotein,peptideorligandat1:2molarratioofligandtodriedfilmofDSPE-PEG-NHS.For2mlkitadd300µlofwater-solublesolutionofproteinofligandinPBS(pH7.4)tothedriedlipidfilmandfor5mlkitadd750ulofwater-solublesolutionofproteinofligandinPBS(pH7.4)tothedriedlipidfilm.Itispreferredtosonicatethehydratedlipidfilmusingabathsonicatorandsonicatethemicellesolutionfor5minutes.IfyoudonothaveabathsonicatorthenhydratethedriedlipidfilmwithPBSforatleast1hourandconstantlyrotatethesolutionintheroundbottomflaskusingarotavap(notconnectedtovacuum)orbyhandtomakesurethatallthedriedlipidonthewalloftheroundbottomflaskwillgotothesolutionandformmicelles.Alternatively,youcanuseavortextoagitatethesolution.Thegoalistohaveallthedriedlipidonthewalloftheroundbottomglasstogothemicellesolution.Thesolutionisincubatedatroomtemperaturefor6hoursandinrefrigeratorfor24hours.ThereactionispHsensitive.Readthetechnicalnotebelowformoreinformation.
- Mixthemicellesinstep2tothemicellesinstep4.Thetotalvolumeofmicellesfor2mlkitshouldbe400µlandfor5mlkitshouldbe1000µl.
- Toconductpost-insertion,themicellardispersionisthenco-incubatedwithpreformedplainliposomesat60℃for30min.
- Removethenon-conjugatedprotein,peptideorantibodyfromtheimmunoliposomesbydialysis.Wepreferdialysistosizeexclusioncolumns.Dialysisisamuchslowerprocessbuttherewillbeminimumlossofimmunoliposomesaftertheprepiscleanedfromnon-conjugatedprotein/peptide/ligand.Spincolumnsaremuchfaster;however,youcaneasilyloseover50%oftheliposomesonthespincolumn.WerecommendusingFloat-A-Lyzer® dialysiscassettefromSpectrumLabs.YouwillneedtochooseacassettewithproperMWCOdependingontheMWofyourprotein,peptide,antibodyorantibodyfragment.NOTE:Ifyoudecidetouseadialysiscassette,youwillneedtomakesurethattheMWCOisbelow1,000,000dalton.At1,000,000dalton,theporesizeonthedialysismembranegetscloseto100nmandtherefore,yourliposomescanbedialyzedout.Youcannotusedialysiscassettesandspincolumnsblindly.Theycomeinvarioussizesandyouneedtochoosethecorrectsizewisely.Dialyzetheimmunoliposomesolutionin1literofPBSatpH7.4for8hours.Changethedialysisbufferwithafresh1literofPBSandletisdialyzeforanother8hours.Afterthisstep,yourcleanedupimmunoliposomeisreadytobeused.
LiposomeParticleCalculator
Immunodox®liposomesareunilamellarandsizedto100nm.Themolarconcentrationofliposomeis24.56mM.Byhaving liposomediameter(nm)andlipidconcentration(µM),youcancalculatethetotalnumberofthelipidsinoneliposomeandthenumberoftheliposomesinonemilliliteroftheliposomesolution.Tousethecalculatorclick here.
TechnicalNotes
- Doxorubicinisafluorescentmoleculewithλex470nmandλem585nm.Ifyouareusingafluorescenttagonyourantibodyorligand,thenyouneedtomakesurethattheywillnotinterferewitheachother.
- HydrolysisofDSPE-PEG-NHSinaqueoussolutionscompeteswiththeprimaryaminereaction,resultingintheeliminationoftheNHSgroup,whichcanconsequentlydecreasethecouplingyieldpriortothereactionwiththeprotein/antibody.InordertominimizetheimpactofthehydrolysisofNHSester,useahighconcentrationofprotein/antibodytoincreasetheefficiencyofthecross-linking.
- ThereactionofNHSesterswithaminesisstronglypH-dependent:atlowpH,theaminogroupisprotonated,andnomodificationtakesplace.Athigher-than-optimalpH,hydrolysisofNHSesterisquick,andmodificationyielddiminishes.Thehalf-lifeofNHSestersatpH7and8is4-5hoursand1hour,respectively.WhilstNHSestershaveahalf-lifeofonly10minutesatpH8.6.Therefore,toavoidthehydrolysisofNHSester,DSPE-PEG-NHSlipidshouldbeusedimmediatelyforconjugationtoantibodies,proteinsorpeptidescontainingfreeamines.NHSesterreactionsareconductedincommonbuffersatpH7-8.
- PrimaryaminebufferssuchasTrisshouldNOTbeusedbecausetheycompeteforreaction;however,insomeprocedures,itisusefultoaddTrisorglycinebufferattheendofaconjugationproceduretoquench(stop)thereaction.
- IfyouareusingaligandorpeptidethatishydrophobicthenitisrecommendedtosolubilizeitinDMSOorDMFandthenaddthebuffertoit.Itisrecommendednottousemorethan5%volumeofDMSOorDMFinthesolution.DMFandDMSOarebothcompatIBLewithliposomesandtheyarealsomiscibleinwater.Otherorganicsolventsuchasethanolandchloroformarenotcompatiblewithliposomesandwillcausetheliposomestolyse.IfyouendupusingDMSOorDMFthenaftertheconjugationreactionisdone,youneedtoremoveDMSOandDMFfromtheliposomes.InordertodothatyouneedtouseadialysiscassettethatismadefromREGENERATEDCELLULOSEMEMBRANE.NOTE:NotallmembranesarecompatiblewithDMFandDMSO.WerecommendusingaSlide-A-Lyzer™MINIDialysisDevicewithMWCOof2KmadefromregeneratedcellulosemembranemanufacturedbyThermofisher.AfterDMSOorDMFisremovedyoucanuseFloat-A-Lyzer®dialysisdeviceforthefinalstepofcleaninguptheprep.
- Liposomesshouldbekeptat4°CandNEVERbefrozen.
Database
Directlinktothedatabasepageforeasynavigation:ImmunoliposomesConjugationDatabase
Appearance
Immunodox®-NHS(PEGylated)post-insertionkitcomesinthreevials:vial1isaredtranslucentliquidmadeofnanosizeunilamellarliposomeswhichdoesnotcontainanyreactiveofnon-reactivePEGylatedlipid. Usuallyduetothesmallsizeofliposomesnosettlingwilloccurinthebottomofthevial.Vial2containsreactiveDSPE-PEG(2000)-NHSlipidinwhitepowderform.Vial3containsnon-reactiveDSPE-PEG(2000)lipidinwhitepowderform.
EducationalVideo
Ordering/ShippingInformation
- Allliposomebasedformulationsareshippedonblueiceat4°Cininsulatedpackagesusingovernightshippingorinternationalexpressshipping.
- LiposomesshouldNEVERbefrozen.Icecrystalsthatforminthelipidmembranecanrupturethemembrane,changethesizeoftheliposomesandcausetheencapsulateddrugtoleakout.Liposomesinliquidformshouldalwaysbekeptintherefrigerator.
- ClientswhoorderfromoutsideoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaareresponsiblefortheirgovernmentimporttaxesandcustomspaperwork.EncapsulaNanoSciencesisNOTresponsibleforimportationfeestocountriesoutsideoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
- WestronglyencouragetheclientsinJapan,Korea,TaiwanandChinatoorderviaadistributor.Toughcustomsclearanceregulationsinthesecountrieswillcausedelayincustomclearanceoftheseperishableformulationsifordereddirectlythroughus.Distributorscaneasilyclearthepackagesfromcustoms.Toseethelistofthedistributorsclickhere.
- ClientsorderingfromuniversitiesandresearchinstitutesinAustraliashouldkeepinmindthattheliposomeformulationsaremadefromsyntheticmaterialandtheformulationsdonotrequirea“permittoimportquarantinematerial”.LiposomesareNOTBIOLOGicalproducts.
- Ifyouwouldlikeyourinstitute’sFedExorDHLaccounttobechargedforshipping,thenpleaseprovidetheaccountnumberatthetimeofordering.
- EncapsulaNanoScienceshasnocontroloverdelaysduetoinclementweatherorcustomsclearancedelays.YouwillreceiveaFedExorDHLtrackingnumberonceyourorderisconfirmed.ContactFedExorDHLinadvanceandmakesurethatthepaperworkforcustomsisdoneontime. AllsubsequentshippinginquiriesshouldbedirectedtoFederalExpressorDHL.
StorageandShelfLife
Storage
Immunodox®productsshouldalwaysbestoredatinthedarkat4°C,exceptwhenbroughttoroomtemperatureforbriefperiodspriortoanimaldosing.DONOTFREEZE.IfthesUSPensionisfrozen,theencapsulateddrugcanbereleasedfromtheliposomesthuslimitingitseffectiveness.Inaddition,thesizeoftheliposomeswillalsochangeuponfreezingandthawing.
ShelfLife
Immunodox®-NHSismadeondailybasis.Thebatchthatisshippedismanufacturedonthesameday.Itisadvisedtousetheproductswithin4monthsofthemanufacturingdate.
ReferencesandbackgroundreADIng
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2.DaiW,FanY,ZhangH,WangX,ZhangQ,WangX.AcomprehensivestudyofiRGD-modifiedliposomeswithimprovedchemotherapeuticefficacyonB16melanoma.Drugdelivery.2015Jan2;22(1):10-20.
3.FerreiraDdosS,FariaSD,deAraújoLopesSC,TeixeiraCS,MalachiasA,Magalhães-PaniagoR,deSouzaFilhoJD,OliveiraBL,GuimarãesAR,CaravanP,FerreiraLA.Developmentofabone-targetedpH-sensitiveLiposomalformulationcontainingdoxorubicin:physicochemicalcharacterization,cytotoxicity,andbiodistributionevaluationinamousemodelofbonemetastasis.Internationaljournalofnanomedicine.2016;11:3737-51.
4.WangD,FuJ,ShiY,PengD,YuanL,HeB,DaiW,ZhangH,WangX,TianJ,ZhangQ.ThemodulationoftumorvesselpermeABIlitybythalidomideanditsimpactsondifferenttypesoftargeteddrugdeliverysystemsinasarcomamousemodel.JournalofControlledRelease.2016Sep28;238:186-96.
5.FeiW,ZhangY,HanS,TaoJ,ZhengH,WeiY,ZhuJ,LiF,WangX.RGDconjugatedliposome-hollowsilicahybridnanovehiclesfortargetedandcontrolleddeliveryofarsenictrioxideagainsthepaticcarcinoma.Internationaljournalofpharmaceutics.2017Mar15;519(1):250-62.
6.AbuchowskiA,KazoGM,VerhoestJrCR,VanEsT,KafkewitzD,NucciML,ViauAT,DavisFF.Cancertherapywithchemicallymodifiedenzymes.I.Antitumorpropertiesofpolyethyleneglycol-asparaginaseconjugates.Cancerbiochemistrybiophysics.1984Jun;7(2):175-86.
7. SartoreL,CalicetiP,SchiavonO,VeroneseFM.EnzymemodificationbyMPEGwithanaminoacidorpeptideasspacerarms.Appliedbiochemistryandbiotechnology.1991Jan1;27(1):45-54.
8. ShahinM,SoudyR,El-SikhryH,SeubertJM,KaurK,LavasanifarA.Engineeredpeptidesforthedevelopmentofactivelytumortargetedliposomalcarriersofdoxorubicin.Cancerletters.2013Jul1;334(2):284-92.