Research Area · Fluorescent Probes

Design of Fluorescent Dyes for Biomedical Applications

Development of high-performance probes for biomedical applications based on a specialized collection of fluorescent dyes.

Fluorescent dye candidates selected from a molecular library for the detection of DNA and proteins

The research and development of new high-performance probes for biomedical applications is an important focus of the Department of Biomedical Chemistry. We proposed an original approach that enables the creation of fluorescent probes with tailored properties. These studies are built on a collection of approximately 2,000 dyes from different chemical classes, including polymethine cyanines, styryl dyes, coumarins and metal complexes.

In collaboration with Bio-Rad Inc., long-wavelength dyes for non-specific protein detection were developed for use in microfluidic separation systems.

Our group developed a series of sensitive fluorescent dyes for non-specific protein detection in gels — the LUCY probes — for Sigma-Aldrich Inc. Their principal advantages include high sensitivity, with detection from 5 ng of protein, ease of use and a convenient staining protocol.

Detection limits for proteins in polyacrylamide gels using LUCY-506 and LUCY-565 stains
Figure 6. Protein detection limits in polyacrylamide gels using the LUCY-506 and LUCY-565 probes developed in collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich Inc., compared with SYPRO Ruby stain (Invitrogen Corp.).

In collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich Inc., the high-performance DNA stain Nancy-520 was developed. It enables visualization of DNA in gels from 0.5 ng per lane and detection of 0.15 mg/mL in solution.

Patents and Publications

  • W. Patton, S. M. Yarmoluk, P. Pande, V. B. Kovalska, D. Lijun, K. Volkova, J. Coleman, M. Losytskyy, A. Ludlum, A. Balanda. Dyes for analysis of protein aggregation. Patent Application Publication WO 2011/065980 A2, 03.06.2011.
  • A. Rueck, B. Schoenenberger, S. Yarmoluk, V. Kovalska, M. Losytskyy, Y. Slominskii. Nucleic acid fluorescent stains. US Patent Application Publication US2010041045, 18.02.2010.
  • T. R. Berkelman, S. M. Yarmoluk, V. B. Kovalska, M. Yu. Losytskyy, K. D. Volkova. Use of squaraine dyes to visualize protein during separations. Patent Application Publication WO 2008/027821 A1, 06.03.2008.
  • K. D. Volkova, V. B. Kovalska, S. M. Yarmoluk. Modern techniques for protein detection on polyacrylamide gels: problems arising from the use of dyes of undisclosed structures for scientific purposes. Biotech. Histochem. 2007;82(4–5):201–208.
  • V. Kovalska, D. Kryvorotenko, M. Losytskyy, P. Nording, A. Rueck, B. Schoenenberger, S. Yarmoluk, F. Wahl. Detection of polyamino acids using trimethincyanine dyes. US Patent Application Publication US2006207881, 21.09.2006.