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Biology subjects

Rosenthal, E. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Rosenthal, E. L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Rapid Assessment of Target-Binding Fractions in Theranostic and Imaging Agents Using Size-Exclusion HPLC

BackgroundThe clinical translation of molecularly targeted therapeutics and imaging agents represents a cornerstone of precision oncology, with the global theranostics market projected to exceed $25 billion by 2030. However, the development of theragnostic agents or diagnostic companions remains constrained by analytical bottlenecks in quality control, such as target-binding specificity, which are increasingly required by regulatory agencies as product release criteria during the translation process. Current methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which require specialized resources or external CROs, or bead-based assays for radiolabeled compounds, which involve complex multi-step protocols; these limitations and others hamper their practical implementation in clinical manufacturing environments. Assay delays can postpone clinical trial initiation, increase development costs, and delay patient access to these agents. ResultsWe have developed and validated a rapid, size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) method for the determination of target-binding fractions of labeled biologics. The method separates the unbound biologic from the larger antigen-bound complex, allowing for rapid quantification. We validated the method using a panel of fluorescently labeled antibodies (panitumumab-IRDye800CW, nivolumab-IRDye800CW) and radiolabeled biologics ([18F]GEH200521, [18F]NOTA-ABY-030), assessing linearity, specificity, and concentration independence. The SE-HPLC method achieved excellent separation of bound and unbound species with a resolution (Rs) of 3.2. A strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.999) was observed between the antigen-to-antibody ratio and the measured binding fraction. The method demonstrated high specificity, with no binding detected with non-target antigens. The total assay and analysis time was less than 35 minutes, a significant improvement over traditional methods. ConclusionsSE-HPLC provides a rapid, specific, and cost-effective alternative to traditional binding fraction assessment methods, reducing quality control timelines from weeks/hours to minutes. The methods compatibility with both fluorescent and radiolabeled biologics and integration with existing HPLC infrastructure represents a significant advancement in development workflows.

biochemistry↗

Flavinated SDHA Underlies the Change in Intrinsic Optical Properties of Oral Cancers

The molecular basis of reduced autofluorescence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells relative to normal cells has been speculated to be due to lower levels of free flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). This speculation, along with differences in the intrinsic optical properties of extracellular collagen, lie at the foundation of the design of currently-used clinical optical detection devices. Here, we report that free FAD levels may not account for differences in autofluorescence of OSCC cells, but that the differences relate to FAD as a co-factor for flavination. Autofluorescence from a 70 kDa flavoprotein, succinate dehydrogenase A (SDHA), was found to be responsible for changes in optical properties within the FAD spectral region with lower levels of flavinated SDHA in OSCC cells. Since flavinated SDHA is required for functional complexation with succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB), decreased SDHB levels were observed in human OSCC tissue relative to normal tissues. Accordingly, the metabolism of OSCC cells was found to be significantly altered relative to normal cells, revealing vulnerabilities for both diagnosis and targeted therapy. Optimizing non-invasive tools based on optical and metabolic signatures of cancers will enable more precise and early diagnosis leading to improved outcomes in patients.

cancer biology↗

Noninvasive Ultrasonic Glymphatic Induction Enhances Intrathecal Drug Delivery

Intrathecal drug delivery is routinely used to bypass the blood-brain barrier in treating varied central nervous system conditions. However, the utility of intrathecal delivery is limited by poor parenchymal uptake of agents from the cerebrospinal fluid. We demonstrate that a simple noninvasive transcranial ultrasound protocol significantly increases the brain parenchymal uptake of intrathecally administered drugs and antibodies. Essentially, we show that our protocol of transcranial ultrasound can accelerate glymphatic fluid transport from the cisternal space into the parenchymal compartment. Specifically, we administered small ([~]1kDa) and large ([~]150 kDa) molecule agents into the cisterna magna of rats and then applied low, diagnostic-intensity focused ultrasound in a scanning protocol throughout the brain. Using both real-time magnetic resonance imaging and ex vivo histologic analyses, we observed significantly increased uptake of each agent into the brain parenchyma from the cisternal cerebrospinal fluid, notably with no brain parenchymal damage. The low intensity of the ultrasound and its noninvasiveness underscores the ready path to clinical translation of this technique for whole-brain delivery of a variety of agents. Furthermore, this technique can be used as a means to probe the causal role of the glymphatic system in the variety of disease and physiologic processes to which it has been correlated. eTOC SummaryA translation-ready ultrasound technique enhances the brain penetration of intrathecally delivered agents via upregulating the glymphatic pathway.

bioengineering↗