APPLICATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED SYNTHETIC LIPIDS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Abstract
Beyond medical applications, FSL technology addresses fundamental biological questions, particularly in studying and modeling complement activation - a key mechanism of innate immunity. Using kodecytes modified with FSL constructs bearing specific glycans, it was confirmed that certain anti-glycan antibodies lack complement-activating capacity. Moreover, the hemolytic activity of complement in human serum was found to be twice as stable as previously assumed: 60% of activity was retained after one week at room temperature and two months at 4°C. Additionally, cholesterol-based lipid constructs enable targeted incorporation into lipid rafts - membrane microdomains central to cell signaling - opening perspectives for antigen-independent modulation of immune responses. Furthermore, fluorescent and biotinylated FSL constructs allow for the modification of enveloped viruses (e.g., influenza) for bioimaging of virions both in vitro and in vivo. A key advantage of FSL technology is its ability to modify virtually any surface, including non-biological ones, without prior chemical activation. Applications include rapid biotinylation of magnetic microspheres for cell and protein immobilization, and glycosylation of implants to enhance biocompatibility. In summary, FSL constructs represent a versatile platform for surface property modeling, combining ease of use with broad functionality. They demonstrate significant potential for translating fundamental chemical and biological research into clinically relevant applications.
Publication Details
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.