Compact biosensor of matrix metalloproteinase with cadmium free quantum dots

1. A quantum dot (QD) modified optical fiber-based biosensor system adapted for evaluation of metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity at pain signaling sites in the central nervous system (CNS), said biosensor system comprising:

(a) a multimode silica optical fiber comprising one or more quantum dots that (1) are bioconjugated on their surface to one or more peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme, and (2) that are tethered to an insertion end of said multimode silica optical fiber by one or more silane coupling agents; and

(b) a photon detector;

wherein changes in photon emission resulting from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme are detected by said photon detector.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity is characteristic of neuroimmune neuropathies.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said neuroimmune neuropathies are selected from the group consisting of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said insertion end of said multimode silica optical fiber is adapted for insertion into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of the central nervous system.

5. A method for identifying a peptide having an affinity for a metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme implicated in a neuroimmune neuropathy, the method comprising:

(a) providing a quantum dot (QD) modified optical fiber-based biosensor system of claim 4 ;

(b) inserting the multimode silica optical fiber of the biosensor system of claim 4 into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of a subject's central nervous system; and

(c) measuring any changes in photon emission that result from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and said peptide, as detected by said photon detector; and

(d) comparing any changes in photon emission to a control value.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

(1) the quantum dots do not contain cadmium; and

(2) changes in photon emission resulting from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme are reflected by measurable perturbations in quantum dot fluorescence and are detected by a transducer of said photon detector.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said insertion end of said multimode silica optical fiber is adapted for insertion into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of the central nervous system.

8. A method for evaluating in vivo metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity at a subject's central nervous system pain signaling site, the method comprising:

(a) providing a quantum dot (QD) modified optical fiber-based biosensor system of claim 7 ;

(b) inserting the multimode silica optical fiber of the biosensor system of claim 7 into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of the subject's central nervous system; and

(c) measuring changes in photon emission resulting from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme, said changes having been detected by said photon detector.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the method is conducted in high-throughput format and in real-time.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the silane coupling agents comprise a thiol functional group that covalently bonds to a metallic surface.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the silane coupling agent is 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS).

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

(a) said insertion end of said multimode silica optical fiber is adapted for insertion into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of the central nervous system;

(a) the biosensor contains a fiber optic laser comprising a PMT detector and a Y-fiber fiber coupler adapted for duel entrance and exit of excitation and emission lights, respectively; and

(b) wherein a fiber connector is connected to the insertion end of said multimode silica optical fiber and said multimode silica optical fiber is further adapted to an in-dwelling catheter for purposes of measurable perturbations in quantum dot fluorescence.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dots are colloidal Mn-doped ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots, Cu-doped ZnSe quantum dots or InP/ZnSe quantum dots.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

(a) the one or more peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme are modified at either their N or C-terminals with a fluorescent protein or dye;

(b) in operation, the fluorescent protein or dye undergoes Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) with the quantum dots, said Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) being disrupted by interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme; and wherein

(c) said disruption being (1) detected by said photon detector, and (2) correlated as an indicator of metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein said photon detector is adapted for the detection of ratiometric changes that occur as quantum dot fluorescence increases and protein fluorescence decreases due to metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity, and wherein in operation said detected ratiometric changes are correlated as an indicator of metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity in vivo.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein said peptide is at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3; SEQ ID No: 4; SEQ ID NO: 5 and SEQ ID NO: 6).

17. A method for evaluating in vivo metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activity at a subject's central nervous system pain signaling site, the method comprising:

(a) providing a quantum dot (QD) modified optical fiber-based biosensor system of claim 1 ;

(b) inserting the multimode silica optical fiber of the biosensor system of claim 1 into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of the subject's central nervous system; and

(c) measuring changes in photon emission resulting from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and peptides having an affinity for said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme, said changes having been detected by said photon detector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method is conducted in high-throughput format and in real-time.

19. A method for identifying a peptide having an affinity for a metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme implicated in a neuroimmune neuropathy, the method comprising:

(a) providing a quantum dot (QD) modified optical fiber-based biosensor system of claim 1 ;

(b) inserting the multimode silica optical fiber of the biosensor system of claim 1 into an in-dwelling spinal catheter that is submerged into either the epidermal or intrathecal regions of a subject's central nervous system; and

(c) measuring any changes in photon emission that result from interaction of said metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme and said peptide, as detected by said photon detector; and

(d) comparing any changes in photon emission to a control value.