Laura Elena Estrada Martínez

Ms. Laura Elena Estrada Martínez


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 February 2020 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RJRicardo Cervantes jiménez
Ricardo Cervantes jiménez
LSLino Sánchez-Segura
Lino Sánchez-Segura
LMLaura Elena Estrada Martínez
Laura Elena Estrada Martínez
Antonio TopeteAntonio Topete
Antonio Topete
EMElizabeth Mendiola-Olaya
Elizabeth Mendiola-Olaya
Teresa García-GascaTeresa García-Gasca
Teresa García-Gasca
Lectins are bioactive proteins with the ability to recognize cell membrane carbohydrates in a specific way. Diverse plant lectins have shown diagnostic and therapeutic potential against cancer, and their cytotoxicity against transformed cells is mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Previous works have determined the cytotoxic activity of a Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) lectin fraction (TBLF) and its anti-tumorigenic effect on colon cancer. In this work, lectins from the TBLF were additionally purified by ionic-exchange chromatography. Two peaks with agglutination activity were obtained: one of them was named TBL-IE2 and showed a single protein band in two-dimensional electrophoresis; this one was thus selected for coupling to quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles by microfluidics (TBL-IE2-QD). The microfluidic method led to low sample usage, and resulted in homogeneous complexes, whose visualization was achieved using multiphoton and transmission electron microscopy. The average particle size (380 nm) and the average zeta potential (−18.51 mV) were determined. The cytotoxicity of the TBL-IE2 and TBL-IE2-QD was assayed on HT-29 colon cancer cells, showing no differences between them (p ≤ 0.05), where the LC50 values were 1.0 × 10−3 and 1.7 × 10−3 mg/mL, respectively. The microfluidic technique allowed control of the coupling between the QD and the protein, substantially improving the labelling process, providing a rapid and efficient method that enabled the traceability of lectins. Future studies will focus on the potential use of the QD-labelled lectin to recognize tumor tissues.