Protease biosensors based on peptide-nanocellulose conjugates: from molecular design to dressing interface

Authors: Edwards, Judson - Vince; Fontenot, Krystal; Prevost, Nicolette; HALDANE, DAVID - Innovatech-Engineering; PIRCHER, NICOLE - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; LIEBNER, FALK - University Of Natural Resources & Applied Life Sciences - Austria; French, Alfred - Al; Condon, Brian

Submitted to: International Journal of Medical Nano Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/16/2016
Publication Date: 8/19/2016
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Fontenot, K.R., Prevost, N.T., Haldane, D., Pircher, N., Liebner, F., French, A.D., Condon, B.D. 2016. Protease biosensors based on peptide-nanocellulose conjugates: from molecular design to dressing interface. International Journal of Medical Nano Research. 3(2):1-11.

Interpretive Summary: Point of care diagnostic protease sensors applied to wound healing are of interest to assist decisions in both selecting and interfacing with chronic wound dressings. Biosensors require a transducer surface with a high specific surface area and should be both biocompatible with the cellular and biochemical environment of the wound, and suitable to derivatization with a sensor molecule that is selective and sensitive to the protease biomarker i.e., Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE). Different nanocellulose systems conjugated to an elastase peptide substrate were evaluated for characteristic bioactivity properties as deemed suitable for sensor-dressing interface and a multifaceted, intelligent dressing motif. Integration of nanocellulosic biosensors into an intelligent semiocclusive dressing motif shows promise from a standpoint of their versatility to form different types of colloidal shapes, their basic physical properties that are advantageous to wound healing shared with commercial dressings, and readily adaptable for the detection of other markers by substitution with other sensor molecules.

Technical Abstract: The development of point of care diagnostic protease sensors applied to wound healing has received increased interest for chronic wound treatment and as an interface with chronic wound dressings. Biosensor technology has grown exponentially in recent years. Here we focus on nanocelluosic biosensor transducer surfaces, which have a relatively high specific surface area and are biocompatible with the cellular and biochemical environment of the wound. Nanomaterials that can be derivatized with a sensor molecule and made selective and sensitive to the diagnostic biomarker make ideal biosensor transducer surfaces. Nanocellulose possesses properties as a transducer surface and can be prepared from a number of sources in a variety of physical forms. Here we review a number of nanocellulosic materials that may also be viewed as suitable for interface with chronic wound dressings. As sensor transducers cellulose nanocrystals, nanocellulose composites, aerogels and nanocellulosic foams have biodegradability, biocompatibility, functionality, and high specific surface area (SSA). As a model, the nanocellulosic systems conjugated to an elastase substrate succinamidyl-Ala-Pro-Ala-amidylcoumadin (Suc-APA-AMC, tripeptide) are discussed in terms of characteristic properties including specific surface area, permeability, surface charge, and sensitivity to proteases as it relates to a biosensor layer as a component of an intelligent semiocclusive wound dressing.