Albumin-based non-covalent complexes and methods of use thereof
A non-covalent complex of an albumin molecule and a hydrophobic ligand, compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof are provided. The present complex may find use in delivering the hydrophobic ligand to microorganisms that have albumin-binding outer surfaces, such as a cell wall.
1. A method of detecting one or more properties of a carotenoid comprising:
dissolving a carotenoid in:
i) a first organic solvent comprising a C 3 -C 5 ketone; or
ii) a combination of the first organic solvent and a second organic solvent in a ratio of from about 0.001:1 to about 1000:1 v/v,
to provide a first solution;
combining the first solution with a second solution to provide a third solution, wherein the second solution is an aqueous solution comprising an albumin protein; and
removing the first organic solvent or the combination of the first organic solvent and the second organic solvent from the third solution to provide a fourth solution, wherein the fourth solution is an aqueous solution comprising a non-covalent complex of the carotenoid and a single albumin protein, wherein the complex does not include more than one albumin protein;
contacting a microorganism with the fourth solution to functionally associate the microorganism with the carotenoid; and
detecting one or more properties of the carotenoid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the C 3 -C 5 ketone is acetone.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carotenoid is dissolved in the combination of a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent, and wherein the ratio of the first organic solvent and the second organic solvent is in the range of about 1:1 to about 5:1.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the carotenoid is dissolved in the combination, and wherein the combination comprises the first organic solvent and the second organic solvent in a ratio of about 2:1.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carotenoid is dissolved in the combination, and wherein the method comprises:
dissolving the carotenoid in the second organic solvent, to provide a fifth solution; and
combining the fifth solution with the C 3 -C 5 ketone to provide the first solution prior to combining the first solution with the second solution.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the removing is performed by evaporation.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is a pathogenic microorganism.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in vitro.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in vivo.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carotenoid is a carotene.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the carotene is lycopene or β-carotene.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the albumin protein is a human serum albumin protein.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein, the method does not comprise the use of a potassium phosphate containing reagent.