Synthesis of polystyrene microspheres and functionalization with Pd(0) nanoparticles to perform bioorthogonal organometallic chemistry in living cells.
We have developed miniaturized heterogeneous Pd(0)-catalysts (Pd(0)-microspheres) with the ability to enter cells, stay harmlessly within the cytosol and mediate efficient bioorthogonal organometallic chemistries (e.g., allylcarbamate cleavage and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling). This approach is a major addition to the toolbox available for performing chemical reactions within cells. Here we describe a full protocol for the synthesis of the Pd(0)-microspheres from readily available starting materials (by the synthesis of size-controlled amino-functionalized polystyrene microspheres), as well as for their characterization (electron microscopy and palladium quantitation) and functional validation ('in solution' and 'in cytoplasm' conversions). From the beginning of the synthesis to functional evaluation of the catalytic device requires 5 d of work.
Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. asier.ub@ed.ac.uk
Asier
A
Unciti-Broceta
Emma M V
EM
Johansson
Rahimi M
RM
Yusop
Rosario M
RM
Sánchez-Martín
Mark
M
Bradley
D001671:Biochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008863:Microspheres; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
D011137:Polystyrenes; D010165:Palladium