Biotinylated liposomes can be conjugated non-covalently with (strept)avidin through either direct interaction with the protein/antibody conjugated to (strept)avidin or by coupling with other biotinylated proteins using (strept)avidin as a bridging molecule. Both avidin and (strept)avidin form strong non-covalent bond with biotin. The high resistance to breakdown makes them very useful in bioconjugate chemistry. However, (strept)avidin has replaced avidin in most bioconjugation applications due to its enhanced properties. NeutrAvidin (ThermoFisher) is a modified avidin without negative properties. It performs much better than original avidin and sometimes (strept)avidin. In order to exploit the high-affinity interaction of biotin with (strept)avidin, a two-step “sandwich” protocol (Method A) has been developed for the preparation of targeted immunoliposomes. In this methodology, (strept)avidin is first attached to biotinylated liposomes, then a biotin-modified protein/antibody is introduced into the biotinylated (strept)avidin-labeled liposomes. This non-covalent approach is rapid, extremely versatile and applicable to numerous targeting ligands of interest with respect to in vitro and in vivo applications. Alternatively, instead of forming a (strept)avidin bridge, (strept)avidin molecule can also be covalently conjugated to antibody or ligand (Method B) and non-covalently bound to liposomes containing biotin on surface in order to form immunoliposomes.

Biotinylated liposomes can be conjugated non-covalently with (strept)avidin through either direct interaction with the protein/antibody conjugated to (strept)avidin or by coupling with other biotinylated proteins using (strept)avidin as a bridging molecule. Both avidin and (strept)avidin form strong non-covalent bond with biotin. The high resistance to breakdown makes them very useful in bioconjugate chemistry. However, (strept)avidin has replaced avidin in most bioconjugation applications due to its enhanced properties. NeutrAvidin (ThermoFisher) is a modified avidin without negative properties. It performs much better than original avidin and sometimes (strept)avidin. In order to exploit the high-affinity interaction of biotin with (strept)avidin, a two-step “sandwich” protocol (Method A) has been developed for the preparation of targeted immunoliposomes. In this methodology, (strept)avidin is first attached to biotinylated liposomes, then a biotin-modified protein/antibody is introduced into the biotinylated (strept)avidin-labeled liposomes. This non-covalent approach is rapid, extremely versatile and applicable to numerous targeting ligands of interest with respect to in vitro and in vivo applications. Alternatively, instead of forming a (strept)avidin bridge, (strept)avidin molecule can also be covalently conjugated to antibody or ligand (Method B) and non-covalently bound to liposomes containing biotin on surface in order to form immunoliposomes.

Biotinylated liposomes can be conjugated non-covalently with (strept)avidin through either direct interaction with the protein/antibody conjugated to (strept)avidin or by coupling with other biotinylated proteins using (strept)avidin as a bridging molecule. Both avidin and (strept)avidin form strong non-covalent bond with biotin. The high resistance to breakdown makes them very useful in bioconjugate chemistry. However, (strept)avidin has replaced avidin in most bioconjugation applications due to its enhanced properties. NeutrAvidin (ThermoFisher) is a modified avidin without negative properties. It performs much better than original avidin and sometimes (strept)avidin . In order to exploit the high-affinity interaction of biotin with (strept)avidin , a two-step “sandwich” protocol (Method A) has been developed for the preparation of targeted immunoliposomes. In this methodology, (strept)avidin is first attached to biotinylated liposomes, then a biotin-modified protein/antibody is introduced into the biotinylated (strept)avidin -labeled liposomes. This non-covalent approach is rapid, extremely versatile and applicable to numerous targeting ligands of interest with respect to in vitro and in vivo applications. Alternatively, instead of forming a (strept)avidin bridge, (strept)avidin molecule can also be covalently conjugated to antibody or ligand (Method B) and non-covalently bound to liposomes containing biotin on surface in order to form immunoliposomes.

Biotinylated liposomes can be conjugated non-covalently with (strept)avidin through either direct interaction with the protein/antibody conjugated to (strept)avidin or by coupling with other biotinylated proteins using (strept)avidin as a bridging molecule. Both avidin and (strept)avidin form strong non-covalent bond with biotin. The high resistance to breakdown makes them very useful in bioconjugate chemistry. However, (strept)avidin has replaced avidin in most bioconjugation applications due to its enhanced properties. NeutrAvidin (ThermoFisher) is a modified avidin without negative properties. It performs much better than original avidin and sometimes (strept)avidin . In order to exploit the high-affinity interaction of biotin with (strept)avidin , a two-step “sandwich” protocol (Method A) has been developed for the preparation of targeted immunoliposomes. In this methodology, (strept)avidin is first attached to biotinylated liposomes, then a biotin-modified protein/antibody is introduced into the biotinylated (strept)avidin -labeled liposomes. This non-covalent approach is rapid, extremely versatile and applicable to numerous targeting ligands of interest with respect to in vitro and in vivo applications. Alternatively, instead of forming a (strept)avidin bridge, (strept)avidin molecule can also be covalently conjugated to antibody or ligand (Method B) and non-covalently bound to liposomes containing biotin on surface in order to form immunoliposomes.

Numerous techniques have been developed to prepare immunoliposomes based on the nucleophilic reactivity of free amine groups of proteins or peptides. One of the most popular and commonly used methods is to covalently couple free carboxylic groups to primary amines through activation of the carboxyl groups with EDC (1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide). EDC, which is a so-called zero-length crosslinking agent, reacts with the carboxyl to form an amine reactive intermediate (O-acylisourea). The produced O-acylisourea can be easily displaced by nucleophilic attack from primary amino groups in the reaction mixture. However, this intermediate is unstable and hydrolyzed in aqueous solutions. In order to prevent the intermediate hydrolysis, sulfo-NHS (N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide) is added to EDC to produce a significantly more stable and more soluble active intermediate (NHS ester). Consequently, the immunoliposomes are prepared by a two-step coupling procedure: first, activating the free carboxyl group on the antibody, peptide or protein with EDC and sulfo-NHS, and then covalently conjugating antibody to the lipids through displacement of sulfo-NHS groups by amine groups of the liposomes, as depicted below. EDC/sulfo-NHS coupling reactions are highly selective and highly efficient, and the biological activity of the protein or peptide is preserved.