Pooled Nanoparticle Screening Using a Chemical Barcoding Approach

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2025 Jan 27;64(5):e202420052. doi: 10.1002/anie.202420052. Epub 2025 Jan 7.

Abstract

We report the development of a small molecule-based barcoding platform for pooled screening of nanoparticle delivery. Using aryl halide-based tags (halocodes), we achieve high-sensitivity detection via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or electron capture. This enables barcoding and tracking of nanoparticles with minimal halocode concentrations and without altering their physicochemical properties. To demonstrate the utility of our platform for pooled screening, we synthesized a halocoded library of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles and quantified uptake in ovarian cancer cells in a pooled manner. Our findings correlate with conventional fluorescence-based assays. Additionally, we demonstrate the potential of halocodes for spatial mapping of nanoparticles using mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Halocoding presents an accessible and modular nanoparticle screening platform capable of quantifying delivery of pooled nanocarrier libraries in a range of biological settings.

Keywords: barcoding; gas chromatography; mass spectrometry; nanoparticles; pooled screening.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Ovarian Neoplasms
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry

Substances

  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Small Molecule Libraries