title: Nanoparticle-based caspase sensors.
abstract: Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided new tools for measuring enzymatic activities that are relevant for the assessment of physiological and pathological processes. Caspases, the enzymes intimately linked with cell death and inflammation, are cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed proteases. The measurement of caspase activity requires assays that can provide data with specificity, precision and sensitivity. Several nanoparticle-based assays are now beginning to emerge. This article will first provide a brief discussion of conventional methods of measuring caspase activity and their limitations, followed by an overview of the advantages and limitations of nanoparticle-based strategies for sensing caspase enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Room 1314, McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
authors.forename: Dusica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maysinger
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hutter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death; D057075:Enzyme Assays / Q000379:methods; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D020169:Caspases
keywords: biosensors; cancer cells; caspase activity; fluorescence; gold nanoparticles; microglia; neurons; quantum dots