Detection of Tn-antigen in breast and prostate cancer models by VVL-labeled red dye-doped nanoparticles

Sep 21, 2026

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Fluorescence detection for breast and prostate cancer cells expressing the tumor marker Tn-antigen is developed using Vicia villosa lectin (VVL)-labeled nanoparticles. Breast and prostate cancer cells engineered to express high Tn-antigen levels and non-engineered controls are incubated with VVL-labeled or unlabeled red dye-doped, silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles. Cell binding is evaluated by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

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Abstract

Aim

Materials & methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Cancer-associated glycosylation and Tn-antigen relevance

Existing detection approaches and limitations

NANOMEDICINE 2024, VOL. 19, NO. 29, 2463–2478 [https://doi.org/10.1080/17435889.2024.2405454](https://doi.org/10.1080/17435889.2024.2405454) RESEARCH ARTICLE Detection of Tn-antigen in breast and prostate cancer models by VVL-labeled red dye-doped nanoparticles Alejandra Verhassel‡, a, b, Martha Kimani‡, c, Kamlesh Gidwanib, d, Jouko Sandholme, Kornelia Gawlitza* , c, Knut Rurackc and Pirkko Härkönen** , a, b a Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, 20520, Finland; bWestern Cancer Centre FICAN West, Turku, 20521, Finland; c Chemical and Optical Sensing Division, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und-prüfung (BAM), Berlin, 12489, Germany; d Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, 20520, Finland; eTurku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and ˚Abo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland ABSTRACT Aim: Fluorescence detection of breast and prostate cancer cells expressing Tn-antigen, a tumor marker, with Vicia villosa lectin (VVL)-labeled nanoparticles. Materials & methods: Breast and prostate cancer cells engineered to express high levels of Tnantigen and non-engineered controls were incubated with VVL-labeled or unlabeled red dye-doped silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles. The binding to cells was studied with flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy. Results: Flow cytometry showed that the binding of VVL-labeled nanoparticles was significantly higher to Tn-antigen-expressing cancer cells than controls. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that particles bound to the cell surface. According to the correlative light and electron microscopy the particles bound mostly as aggregates. Conclusion: VVL-labeled nanoparticles could provide a new tool for the detection of Tn-antigenexpressing breast and prostate cancer cells. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT VVL-labeled nanoparticle VVL (binds Tn antigen) Cancer cell Nanoparticles (red) Imaging Cancer-related (Tn antigen) glycan ARTICLE HISTORY Received 10 July 2024 Accepted 13 September 2024 KEYWORDS breast cancer cells; fluorescence detection; lectin labeling; prostate cancer cells; silica-coated polystyrene nanoparticles; Tn-antigen; VVL 1. Introduction Protein glycosylation is a post-translational modification, in which a carbohydrate chain (glycan) is attached to a protein, forming a glycoprotein [1,2] . Glycans influence cell membrane properties, support cell signaling and attachment, and influence protein folding and stability [2,3] . The two most common and important forms of CONTACT Kornelia Gawlitza [kornelia.gawlitza@bam.de](kornelia.gawlitza@bam.de); Pirkko Härkönen harkonen@utu.ﬁ‡ Equal contribution Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at [https://doi.org/10.1080/17435889.2024.2405454](https://doi.org/10.1080/17435889.2024.2405454)[ ](https://doi.org/10.1080/17435889.2024.2405454)© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. 2464 A. VERHASSEL ET AL. human protein glycosylation are N-glycosylation (glycan chain bound to an asparagine) and O-glycosylation (glycan chain bound to serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), or tyrosine (Tyr)) [1,4] . O-glycosylation can be further subdivided into different types, depending on which carbohydrate is linked to the protein (e.g., linkage of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) or N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and

FAQs

What detection approach is evaluated for Tn-antigen-expressing cancer cells?

The study evaluates fluorescence detection using Vicia villosa lectin (VVL)-labeled nanoparticles that bind to Tn-antigen on cancer cells.

How are cell binding experiments performed in the study?

Engineered breast and prostate cancer cells with high Tn-antigen expression and non-engineered controls are incubated with VVL-labeled or unlabeled red dye-doped nanoparticles. Binding is assessed using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and electron microscopy.

What do the microscopy results indicate about nanoparticle binding?

Confocal microscopy shows particle binding on the cell surface, and correlative light and electron microscopy indicates the particles bind mostly as aggregates.

Sep 21, 2026

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