Quantum Dot Conjugated Virus Spike Protein for Cell-Based Bio-Sensing Systems and Drug Screening
AssigneesThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Healt
InventorsEunkeu Oh, Kimihiro Susumu, Mason A. Wolak, Kirill Gorshkov
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Abstract
Quantum dots conjugated to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) interact with gold nanoparticles bound to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and thus undergo energy transfer. This energy transfer indicates RBD/ACE binding and can be used to assay for inhibitors thereof. Moreover, these labeled quantum dots were found to undergo endocytosis in cells expressing ACE2.
Claims11
A method of assaying inhibitors of spike protein binding, comprising:
- providing a quantum dot labeled with a protein comprising SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD);
- contacting the quantum dot with a gold nanoparticle conjugated to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the presence of a possible inhibitor of binding between the RBD and ACE2;
- and
- measuring energy transfer between the quantum dot and the gold nanoparticle, wherein the energy transfer indicates binding between the RBD and ACE and thereby possible inhibition thereof.
A method of assaying inhibitors of viral binding, comprising:
- providing a quantum dot labeled with a viral surface protein;
- contacting, in the presence of a possible inhibitor, the quantum dot with a metallic nanoparticle configured as an energy transfer partner of the quantum dot, wherein the metallic nanoparticle is conjugated to a binding partner of the viral surface protein;
- and
- measuring energy transfer between the quantum dot and the metallic nanoparticle, wherein the energy transfer indicates binding between the viral surface protein and the binding partner thereof and thereby possible inhibition.
A method of analyzing spike protein activity, comprising:
- providing cells expressing angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2);
- contacting the cells with a quantum dot labeled with SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) optionally in the presence of a possible inhibitor of binding between the RBD and ACE;
- and
- observing the cells for possible endocytosis of the quantum dot.
A method of assaying for cell-based receptors binding to a viral protein, comprising:
- providing cells expressing a possible binding partner of the viral protein;
- contacting the cells with a quantum dot labeled with the viral protein and optionally in the presence of a possible inhibitor of binding between the viral protein and the biding partner of viral protein;
- and
- observing the cells for possible endocytosis of the quantum dots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.