1
|
Chen K, Zhu L, Li J, Zhang Y, Yu Y, Wang X, Wei W, Huang K, Xu W. High-content tailoring strategy to improve the multifunctionality of functional nucleic acids. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 261:116494. [PMID: 38901394 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years due to their diverse physiological functions. The understanding of their conformational recognition mechanisms has advanced through nucleic acid tailoring strategies and sequence optimization. With the development of the FNA tailoring techniques, they have become a methodological guide for nucleic acid repurposing. Therefore, it is necessary to systematize the relationship between FNA tailoring strategies and the development of nucleic acid multifunctionality. This review systematically categorizes eight types of FNA multifunctionality, and introduces the traditional FNA tailoring strategy from five aspects, including deletion, substitution, splitting, fusion and elongation. Based on the current state of FNA modification, a new generation of FNA tailoring strategy, called the high-content tailoring strategy, was unprecedentedly proposed to improve FNA multifunctionality. In addition, the multiple applications of rational tailoring-driven FNA performance enhancement in various fields were comprehensively summarized. The limitations and potential of FNA tailoring and repurposing in the future are also explored in this review. In summary, this review introduces a novel tailoring theory, systematically summarizes eight FNA performance enhancements, and provides a systematic overview of tailoring applications across all categories of FNAs. The high-content tailoring strategy is expected to expand the application scenarios of FNAs in biosensing, biomedicine and materials science, thus promoting the synergistic development of various fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keren Chen
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Longjiao Zhu
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Organism (Food Safety), College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yangzi Zhang
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yongxia Yu
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaofu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Traceability for Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Kunlun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Organism (Food Safety), College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Wentao Xu
- Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Organism (Food Safety), College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ouyang Y, O'Hagan MP, Willner B, Willner I. Aptamer-Modified Homogeneous Catalysts, Heterogenous Nanoparticle Catalysts, and Photocatalysts: Functional "Nucleoapzymes", "Aptananozymes", and "Photoaptazymes". ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2210885. [PMID: 37083210 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Conjugation of aptamers to homogeneous catalysts ("nucleoapzymes"), heterogeneous nanoparticle catalysts ("aptananozymes"), and photocatalysts ("photoaptazymes") yields superior catalytic/photocatalytic hybrid nanostructures emulating functions of native enzymes and photosystems. The concentration of the substrate in proximity to the catalytic sites ("molarity effect") or spatial concentration of electron-acceptor units in spatial proximity to the photosensitizers, by aptamer-ligand complexes, leads to enhanced catalytic/photocatalytic efficacies of the hybrid nanostructures. This is exemplified by sets of "nucleoapzymes" composed of aptamers conjugated to the hemin/G-quadruplex DNAzymes or metal-ligand complexes as catalysts, catalyzing the oxidation of dopamine to aminochrome, oxygen-insertion into the Ar─H moiety of tyrosinamide and the subsequent oxidation of the catechol product into aminochrome, or the hydrolysis of esters or ATP. Also, aptananozymes consisting of aptamers conjugated to Cu2+ - or Ce4+ -ion-modified C-dots or polyadenine-stabilized Au nanoparticles acting as catalysts oxidizing dopamine or operating bioreactor biocatalytic cascades, are demonstrated. In addition, aptamers conjugated to the Ru(II)-tris-bipyridine photosensitizer or the Zn(II) protoporphyrin IX photosensitizer provide supramolecular photoaptazyme assemblies emulating native photosynthetic reaction centers. Effective photoinduced electron transfer followed by the catalyzed synthesis of NADPH or the evolution of H2 is demonstrated by the photosystems. Structure-function relationships dictate the catalytic and photocatalytic efficacies of the systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ouyang
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Michael P O'Hagan
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Bilha Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qin Y, Ouyang Y, Willner I. Nucleic acid-functionalized nanozymes and their applications. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14301-14318. [PMID: 37646290 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr02345a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymes are inorganic, organic and metal-organic framework nanoparticles that reveal catalytic functions by emulating native enzyme activities. Recently, these nanozymes have attracted growing scientific interest, finding diverse analytical and medical applications. However, the catalytic activities and functions of nanozymes are limited, due to the lack of substrate binding sites that concentrate on the substrate at the catalytic site (molarity effect), introduce substrate specificity and allow functional complexity of the catalysts (cascaded, switchable and cooperative catalysis). The modification of nanozymes with functional nucleic acids provides means to overcome these limitations and engineer nucleic acid/nanozyme hybrids for diverse applications. This is exemplified with the synthesis of aptananozymes, which are supramolecular aptamer-modified nanozymes. Aptananozymes exhibit combined specific binding and catalytic properties that drive diverse chemical transformations, revealing enhanced catalytic activities, as compared to the separated nanozyme/aptamer constituents. Relationships of structure-catalytic functions in the aptananozyme constructs are demonstrated. In addition, modification of nanozymes exhibiting multimodal catalytic functions with aptamers allows the engineering of nanozyme-based bioreactors for cascaded catalysis. Also, the functionalization of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating nanozymes with cancer cell-recognizing aptamers yields aptananozymes for targeted chemodynamic treatment of cancer cells and cancer tumors elicited in mice. Finally, nucleic acid-modified enzyme (glucose oxidase)-loaded metal-organic framework nanoparticles yield switchable biocatalytic nanozymes that drive the ON/OFF biocatalyzed oxidation of Amplex Red, dopamine or the generation of chemiluminescence. Herein, future challenges of the topic are addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Qin
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Yu Ouyang
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Itamar Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dong J, Willner I. Transient Transcription Machineries Modulate Dynamic Functions of G-Quadruplexes: Temporal Regulation of Biocatalytic Circuits, Gene Replication and Transcription. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307898. [PMID: 37380611 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Native G-quadruplex-regulated temporal biocatalytic circuits, gene polymerization, and transcription processes are emulated by biomimetic, synthetically engineered transcription machineries coupled to reconfigurable G-quadruplex nanostructures. These are addressed by the following example: (i) A reaction module demonstrates the fuel-triggered transcription machinery-guided transient synthesis of G-quadruplex nanostructures. (ii) A dynamically triggered and modulated transcription machinery that guides the temporal separation and reassembly of the anti-thrombin G-quadruplex aptamer/thrombin complex is introduced, and the transient thrombin-catalyzed coagulation of fibrinogen is demonstrated. (iii) A dynamically fueled transient transcription machinery for the temporal activation of G-quadruplex-topologically blocked gene polymerization circuits is introduced. (iv) Transcription circuits revealing G-quadruplex-promoted or G-quadruplex-inhibited cascaded transcription machineries are presented. Beyond advancing the rapidly developing field of dynamically modulated G-quadruplex DNA nanostructures, the systems introduce potential therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiantong Dong
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li Z, Wang J, Willner B, Willner I. Topologically Triggered Dynamic DNA Frameworks. Isr J Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202300013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Li
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Jianbang Wang
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Bilha Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- The Institute of Chemistry The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem 91904 Israel
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ouyang Y, Fadeev M, Zhang P, Carmieli R, Li J, Sohn YS, Karmi O, Nechushtai R, Pikarsky E, Fan C, Willner I. Aptamer-Modified Au Nanoparticles: Functional Nanozyme Bioreactors for Cascaded Catalysis and Catalysts for Chemodynamic Treatment of Cancer Cells. ACS NANO 2022; 16:18232-18243. [PMID: 36286233 PMCID: PMC9706657 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Polyadenine-stabilized Au nanoparticles (pA-AuNPs) reveal dual nanozyme catalytic activities toward the H2O2-mediated oxidation of dopamine to aminochrome and toward the aerobic oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid and H2O2. The conjugation of a dopamine-binding aptamer (DBA) to the pA-AuNPs yields aptananozyme structures catalyzing simultaneously the H2O2-mediated oxidation of dopamine to aminochrome through the aerobic oxidation of glucose. A set of aptananozymes consisting of DBA conjugated through the 5'- or 3'-end directly or spacer bridges to pA-AuNPs were synthesized. The set of aptananozymes revealed enhanced catalytic activities toward the H2O2-catalyzed oxidation of dopamine to dopachrome, as compared to the separated pA-AuNPs and DBA constituents, and structure-function relationships within the series of aptananozymes were demonstrated. The enhanced catalytic function of the aptananozymes was attributed to the concentration of the dopamine at the catalytic interfaces by means of aptamer-dopamine complexes. The dual catalytic activities of aptananozymes were further applied to design bioreactors catalyzing the effective aerobic oxidation of dopamine in the presence of glucose. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the aptananozymes generate reactive oxygen species. Accordingly, the AS1411 aptamer, recognizing the nucleolin receptor associated with cancer cells, was conjugated to the pA-AuNPs, yielding a nanozyme for the chemodynamic treatment of cancer cells. The AS1411 aptamer targets the aptananozyme to the cancer cells and facilitates the selective permeation of the nanozyme into the cells. Selective cytotoxicity toward MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (ca. 70% cell death) as compared to MCF-10A epithelial cells (ca. 2% cell death) is demonstrated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ouyang
- The
Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Michael Fadeev
- The
Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Pu Zhang
- The
Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Raanan Carmieli
- Department
of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Jiang Li
- School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for
Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- The
Interdisciplinary Research Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation
Facility, Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai
Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yang Sung Sohn
- Institute
of Life Science, The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Ola Karmi
- Institute
of Life Science, The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Rachel Nechushtai
- Institute
of Life Science, The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Eli Pikarsky
- The Lautenberg
Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, IMRIC, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for
Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Itamar Willner
- The
Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fadeev M, O’Hagan MP, Biniuri Y, Willner I. Aptamer-Protein Structures Guide In Silico and Experimental Discovery of Aptamer-Short Peptide Recognition Complexes or Aptamer-Amino Acid Cluster Complexes. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8931-8939. [PMID: 36315022 PMCID: PMC9661473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A method to computationally and experimentally identify aptamers against short peptides or amino acid clusters is introduced. The method involves the selection of a well-defined protein aptamer complex and the extraction of the peptide sequence participating in the binding of the protein to the aptamer. The subsequent fragmentation of the peptide sequence into short peptides and the in silico docking-guided identification of affinity complexes between the miniaturized peptides and the antiprotein aptamer, followed by experimental validation of the binding features of the short peptides with the antiprotein aptamers, leads to the identification of new short peptide-aptamer complexes. This is exemplified with the identification of the pentapeptide RYERN as the scaffold that binds thrombin to the DNA thrombin aptamer (DNA TA). In silico docking studies followed by microscale thermophoresis (MST) experiments demonstrate that the miniaturized tripeptides RYE, YER, and ERN reveal selective binding affinities toward the DNA TA. In addition, docking and MST experiments show that the ribonucleotide-translated RNA TA shows related binding affinities of YER to the DNA TA. Most importantly, we demonstrate that the separated amino acids Y/E/R assemble as a three amino acid cluster on the DNA TA and RNA TA aptamers in spatial configurations similar to the tripeptide YER on the respective aptamers. The clustering phenomenon is selective for the YER tripeptide system. The method to identify binding affinities of miniaturized peptides to known antiprotein aptamers and the specific clustering of single amino acids on the aptamers is further demonstrated by in silico and experimental identification of the binding of the tripeptide RET and the selective clustering of the separated amino acids R/E/T onto a derivative of the AS1411 aptamer against the nucleolin receptor protein.
Collapse
|
8
|
Dong J, O'Hagan MP, Willner I. Switchable and dynamic G-quadruplexes and their applications. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:7631-7661. [PMID: 35975685 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00317a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
G-Quadruplexes attract growing interest as functional constituents in biology, chemistry, nanotechnology, and material science. In particular, the reversible dynamic reconfiguration of G-quadruplexes provides versatile means to switch DNA nanostructures, reversibly control catalytic functions of DNA assemblies, and switch material properties and functions. The present review article discusses the switchable dynamic reconfiguration of G-quadruplexes as central functional and structural motifs that enable diverse applications in DNA nanotechnology and material science. The dynamic reconfiguration of G-quadruplexes has a major impact on the development of DNA switches and DNA machines. The integration of G-quadruplexes with enzymes yields supramolecular assemblies exhibiting switchable catalytic functions guided by dynamic G-quadruplex topologies. In addition, G-quadruplexes act as important building blocks to operate constitutional dynamic networks and transient dissipative networks mimicking complex biological dynamic circuitries. Furthermore, the integration of G-quadruplexes with DNA nanostructures, such as origami tiles, introduces dynamic and mechanical features into these static frameworks. Beyond the dynamic operation of G-quadruplex structures in solution, the assembly of G-quadruplexes on bulk surfaces such as electrodes or nanoparticles provides versatile means to engineer diverse electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices and to switch the dynamic aggregation/deaggregation of nanoparticles, leading to nanoparticle assemblies that reveal switchable optical properties. Finally, the functionalization of hydrogels, hydrogel microcapsules, or nanoparticle carriers, such as SiO2 nanoparticles or metal-organic framework nanoparticles, yields stimuli-responsive materials exhibiting shape-memory, self-healing, and controlled drug release properties. Indeed, G-quadruplex-modified nanomaterials find growing interest in the area of nanomedicine. Beyond the impressive G-quadruplex-based scientific advances achieved to date, exciting future developments are still anticipated. The review addresses these goals by identifying the potential opportunities and challenges ahead of the field in the coming years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiantong Dong
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Michael P O'Hagan
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang C, O'Hagan MP, Li Z, Zhang J, Ma X, Tian H, Willner I. Photoresponsive DNA materials and their applications. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:720-760. [PMID: 34985085 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00688f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Photoresponsive nucleic acids attract growing interest as functional constituents in materials science. Integration of photoisomerizable units into DNA strands provides an ideal handle for the reversible reconfiguration of nucleic acid architectures by light irradiation, triggering changes in the chemical and structural properties of the nanostructures that can be exploited in the development of photoresponsive functional devices such as machines, origami structures and ion channels, as well as environmentally adaptable 'smart' materials including nanoparticle aggregates and hydrogels. Moreover, photoresponsive DNA components allow control over the composition of dynamic supramolecular ensembles that mimic native networks. Beyond this, the modification of nucleic acids with photosensitizer functionality enables these biopolymers to act as scaffolds for spatial organization of electron transfer reactions mimicking natural photosynthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these exciting developments in the design of photoresponsive DNA materials, and showcases a range of applications in catalysis, sensing and drug delivery/release. The key challenges facing the development of the field in the coming years are addressed, and exciting emergent research directions are identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Michael P O'Hagan
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| | - Ziyuan Li
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Junji Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Ma
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - He Tian
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang C, O'Hagan MP, Willner B, Willner I. Bioinspired Artificial Photosynthetic Systems. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103595. [PMID: 34854505 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mimicking photosynthesis using artificial systems, as a means for solar energy conversion and green fuel generation, is one of the holy grails of modern science. This perspective presents recent advances towards developing artificial photosynthetic systems. In one approach, native photosystems are interfaced with electrodes to yield photobioelectrochemical cells that transform light energy into electrical power. This is exemplified by interfacing photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) as an electrically contacted assembly mimicking the native Z-scheme, and by the assembly of an electrically wired PSI/glucose oxidase biocatalytic conjugate on an electrode support. Illumination of the functionalized electrodes led to light-induced generation of electrical power, or to the generation of photocurrents using glucose as the fuel. The second approach introduces supramolecular photosensitizer nucleic acid/electron acceptor complexes as functional modules for effective photoinduced electron transfer stimulating the subsequent biocatalyzed generation of NADPH or the Pt-nanoparticle-catalyzed evolution of molecular hydrogen. Application of the DNA machineries for scaling-up the photosystems is demonstrated. A third approach presents the integration of artificial photosynthetic modules into dynamic nucleic acid networks undergoing reversible reconfiguration or dissipative transient operation in the presence of auxiliary triggers. Control over photoinduced electron transfer reactions and photosynthetic transformations by means of the dynamic networks is demonstrated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- Institute of Chemistry, The Minerva Centre for Bio-Hybrid Complex Systems, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michael P O'Hagan
- Institute of Chemistry, The Minerva Centre for Bio-Hybrid Complex Systems, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bilha Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, The Minerva Centre for Bio-Hybrid Complex Systems, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, The Minerva Centre for Bio-Hybrid Complex Systems, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Vázquez-González M, Willner I. Aptamer-Functionalized Micro- and Nanocarriers for Controlled Release. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:9520-9541. [PMID: 33395247 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c17121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sequence-specific nucleic acids recognizing low-molecular-weight ligands or macromolecules (aptamers) have found growing interest for biomedical applications. The present review article summarizes recent applications of aptamers as stimuli-responsive gating units of drug (or dye)-loaded nano- or microcarriers for controlled and targeted drug release. In the presence of cellular biomarkers, the nano-/microcarriers are unlocked by forming aptamer-ligand complexes. Different aptamer-functinalized nano-/microcarriers are presented, including inorganic nanomaterials, metal-organic framework nanoparticles, and soft materials. The chemistries associated with the preparation of the carriers and the mechanisms to unlock the carriers are discussed. Stimuli-responsive gated drug-loaded micro-/nanocarriers hold great promise as functional sense-and-treat materials for the targeted and selective release of drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Vázquez-González
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- Institute of Chemistry, Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Vázquez-González M, Willner I. Aptamer-Functionalized Hybrid Nanostructures for Sensing, Drug Delivery, Catalysis and Mechanical Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1803. [PMID: 33670386 PMCID: PMC7918352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sequence-specific nucleic acids exhibiting selective recognition properties towards low-molecular-weight substrates and macromolecules (aptamers) find growing interest as functional biopolymers for analysis, medical applications such as imaging, drug delivery and even therapeutic agents, nanotechnology, material science and more. The present perspective article introduces a glossary of examples for diverse applications of aptamers mainly originated from our laboratory. These include the introduction of aptamer-functionalized nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, Ag nanoclusters and semiconductor quantum dots as functional hybrid nanomaterials for optical sensing of target analytes. The use of aptamer-functionalized DNA tetrahedra nanostructures for multiplex analysis and aptamer-loaded metal-organic framework nanoparticles acting as sense-and-treat are introduced. Aptamer-functionalized nano and microcarriers are presented as stimuli-responsive hybrid drug carriers for controlled and targeted drug release, including aptamer-functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles, carbon dots, metal-organic frameworks and microcapsules. A further application of aptamers involves the conjugation of aptamers to catalytic units as a means to mimic enzyme functions "nucleoapzymes". In addition, the formation and dissociation of aptamer-ligand complexes are applied to develop mechanical molecular devices and to switch nanostructures such as origami scaffolds. Finally, the article discusses future challenges in applying aptamers in material science, nanotechnology and catalysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Vázquez-González
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Itamar Willner
- Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| |
Collapse
|