Use of lactose against the deadly biological toxin ricin

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2010 Apr;2(4):1081-5. doi: 10.1021/am900846r.

Abstract

Developing a technology for detecting and decontaminating biological toxins is needed. Ricin from Ricinus communis is a highly poisonous toxin; it was formerly used for an assassination in London and in postal attacks in the United States. Ricin is readily available from castor beans and could be used as a biological agent. We propose using glycotechnology against the illegal use of ricin. Lactose (a natural ligand of this toxin) was incorporated into polyacrylamide-based glycopolymers at variable sugar densities (18-100%) and evaluated with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and the real agent, ricin. Glycopolymers (18-65% lactose densities) effectively interfered with the toxin-lactoside adhesion event (>99% efficiency within 20 min). This supported the notion of using the mammary sugar lactose against a deadly biological toxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Biosensing Techniques
  • Bioterrorism
  • Endocytosis
  • Glycosides / chemistry
  • Lactose / chemistry*
  • Ligands
  • Models, Chemical
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Ricin / chemistry*
  • Ricinus communis / metabolism
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Time Factors
  • Toxins, Biological / chemistry

Substances

  • Glycosides
  • Ligands
  • Polymers
  • Toxins, Biological
  • lactosides
  • Ricin
  • Lactose