Small-Molecule-Based Nanoassemblies as Inducible Nanoprobes for Monitoring Dynamic Molecular Interactions Inside Live Cells

摘要

Monitoring dynamic protein-protein interactions is a fundamental step to elucidate a variety of signaling processes inside cells. Identifying the target proteins of bioactive small molecules is critical to understanding their intracellular action mechanisms. Although several technologies to probe these protein-protein and small-molecule-protein interactions were developed, they suffer from diverse intrinsic problems including high background noise, false positive/ negative modes, limited sensitivity and dynamic range, and indirect or delayed readouts. In addition, the use of an artificial milieu, such as in vitro binding conditions or non-mammalian cells, has often led to erroneous experimental outputs. Recently, various types of imaging-based nano-technologies have emerged to address these limitations. Despite their enormous potential as nanosensors, application of artificially synthesized nanoparticles to probing molecular interactions inside living mammalian cells is somewhat limited by several factors including the prerequisite of efficient and nondisruptive introduction of nanoparticles throughout the cells.