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Gao Q, He T, Chen L, Zhu S, Li C, Zeng Y, Luo S, Chen S, Chen X, Yu S, Ye Z, Wu ZS. Triangle-toothed gear occlude-guided universal nanotechnology constructs 3D symmetric DNA polyhedra with high assembly efficiency for precision cancer therapy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 677:1045-1060. [PMID: 39178668 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.08.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat malignant tumors. However, conventional chemotherapeutic drugs often cannot distinguish between tumor and healthy cells, resulting in adverse effects and reduced therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, zigzag-shaped gear-occlude-guided cymbal-closing (ZGC) DNA nanotechnology was developed based on the mirror-symmetry principle to efficiently construct symmetric DNA polyhedra. This nanotechnology employed simple mixing steps for efficient sequence design and assembly. A targeting aptamer was installed at a user-defined position using an octahedron as a model structure. Chemotherapeutic drug-loaded polyhedral objects were subsequently delivered into tumor cells. Furthermore, anticancer drug-loaded DNA octahedra were intravenously injected into a HeLa tumor-bearing mouse model. Assembly efficiency was almost 100 %, with no residual building blocks identified. Moreover, this nanotechnology required a few DNA oligonucleotides, even for complex polyhedrons. Symmetric DNA polyhedrons retained their structural integrity for 24 h in complex biological environments, guaranteeing prolonged circulation without drug leakage in the bloodstream and promoting efficient accumulation in tumor tissues. In addition, DNA octahedra were cleared relatively slowly from tumor tissues. Similarly, tumor growth was significantly inhibited in vivo, and a therapeutic outcome comparable to that of conventional gene-chemo combination therapy was observed. Moreover, no systemic toxicity was detected. These findings indicate the potential application of ZGC DNA nanotechnology in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Gao
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Tenghang He
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Linhuan Chen
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Shidan Zhu
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Congcong Li
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Yi Zeng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital (Fujian Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center), China
| | - Shasha Luo
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital (Fujian Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center), China
| | - Xiangru Chen
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; Department of Gastric Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital (Fujian Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center), China
| | - Suhong Yu
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
| | - Zaisheng Ye
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital (Fujian Branch of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center), China
| | - Zai-Sheng Wu
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, Pharmaceutical Photocatalysis of State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
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Xiao F, Luo L, Liu X, Ljubetič A, Jin N, Jerala R, Hu G. Comparative Simulative Analysis and Design of Single-Chain Self-Assembled Protein Cages. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6272-6282. [PMID: 38904939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c01957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Coiled-coil protein origami (CCPO) is a modular strategy for the de novo design of polypeptide nanostructures. It represents a type of modular design based on pairwise-interacting coiled-coil (CC) units with a single-chain protein programmed to fold into a polyhedral cage. However, the mechanisms underlying the self-assembly of the protein tetrahedron are still not fully understood. In the present study, 18 CCPO cages with three different topologies were modeled in silico. Then, molecular dynamics simulations and CC parameters were calculated to characterize the dynamic properties of protein tetrahedral cages at both the local and global levels. Furthermore, a deformed CC unit was redesigned, and the stability of the new cage was significantly improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Pathogen Bioscience and Anti-infective Medicine, Department of Bioinformatics, Center for Systems Biology, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215213, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Longfei Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Pathogen Bioscience and Anti-infective Medicine, Department of Bioinformatics, Center for Systems Biology, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215213, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Institute of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Medical College of Soochow University, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ajasja Ljubetič
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nengzhi Jin
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Computing of Gansu Province, Gansu Computing Center, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Guang Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Pathogen Bioscience and Anti-infective Medicine, Department of Bioinformatics, Center for Systems Biology, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215213, China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Jabbari A, Sameiyan E, Yaghoobi E, Ramezani M, Alibolandi M, Abnous K, Taghdisi SM. Aptamer-based targeted delivery systems for cancer treatment using DNA origami and DNA nanostructures. Int J Pharm 2023; 646:123448. [PMID: 37757957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Due to the limitations of conventional cancer treatment methods, nanomedicine has appeared as a promising alternative, allowing improved drug targeting and decreased drug toxicity. In the development of cancer nanomedicines, among various nanoparticles (NPs), DNA nanostructures are more attractive because of their precisely controllable size, shape, excellent biocompatibility, programmability, biodegradability, and facile functionalization. Aptamers are introduced as single-stranded RNA or DNA molecules with recognize their corresponding targets. So, incorporating aptamers into DNA nanostructures led to influential vehicles for bioimaging and biosensing as well as targeted cancer therapy. In this review, the recent developments in the application of aptamer-based DNA origami and DNA nanostructures in advanced cancer treatment have been highlighted. Some of the main methods of cancer treatment are classified as chemo-, gene-, photodynamic- and combined therapy. Finally, the opportunities and problems for targeted DNA aptamer-based nanocarriers for medicinal applications have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atena Jabbari
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Elham Sameiyan
- Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Elnaz Yaghoobi
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie-Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Mohammad Ramezani
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mona Alibolandi
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Khalil Abnous
- Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mohammad Taghdisi
- Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Unida V, Mangano E, Camboni T, Consolandi C, Desideri A, Severgnini M, Cifola I, Biocca S. Insights on the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by AS1411 linked to folate-functionalized DNA nanocages in cancer cells. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2023; 54:102710. [PMID: 37734452 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2023.102710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled multivalent DNA nanocages are an emerging class of molecules useful for biomedicine applications. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by AS1411 free aptamer, AS1411-linked nanocages (Apt-NCs) and nanocages harboring both folate and AS1411 functionalization (Fol-Apt-NCs) in HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. The three treatments showed different cytotoxic efficacy and Fol-Apt-NCs resulted the most effective in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptotic pathways and ROS activation in both HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells. RNA-seq analysis allowed to identify biological functions and genes altered by the various treatments, depending on the AS1411 route of intracellular entry, highlighting the different behavior of the two cancer cell lines. Notably, Fol-Apt-NCs altered the expression of a subset of genes associated to cancer chemoresistance in MDA-MB-231, but not in HeLa cells, and this may explain the increased chemosensitivity to drugs delivered through DNA nanocages of the triple-negative breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Unida
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Mangano
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Tania Camboni
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Clarissa Consolandi
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Severgnini
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Ingrid Cifola
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054 Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Biocca
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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5
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Unida V, Vindigni G, Raniolo S, Stolfi C, Desideri A, Biocca S. Folate-Functionalization Enhances Cytotoxicity of Multivalent DNA Nanocages on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122610. [PMID: 36559104 PMCID: PMC9786333 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA is an excellent programmable polymer for the generation of self-assembled multivalent nanostructures useful for biomedical applications. Herein, we developed (i) folate-functionalized nanocages (Fol-NC), very efficiently internalized by tumor cells overexpressing the α isoform of the folate receptor; (ii) AS1411-linked nanocages (Apt-NC), internalized through nucleolin, a protein overexpressed in the cell surface of many types of cancers; and (iii) nanostructures that harbor both folate and AS1411 aptamer functionalization (Fol-Apt-NC). We analyzed the specific miRNA silencing activity of all types of nanostructures harboring miRNA sequestering sequences complementary to miR-21 and the cytotoxic effect when loaded with doxorubicin in a drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cell line. We demonstrate that the presence of folate as a targeting ligand increases the efficiency in miR-21 silencing compared to nanocages functionalized with AS1411. Double-functionalized nanocages (Fol-Apt-NC), loaded with doxorubicin, resulted in an increase of over 51% of the cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231 cells compared to free doxorubicin, demonstrating, besides selectivity, the ability of nanocages to overcome Dox chemoresistance. The higher efficiency of the folate-functionalized nanocages is due to the way of entrance, which induces more than four times higher intracellular stability and indicates that the folate-mediated route of cell entry is more efficient than the nucleolin-mediated one when both folate and AS1411 modifications are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Unida
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Vindigni
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Raniolo
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Stolfi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Biocca
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-72-596-418
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Xu Y, Huang SW, Ma YQ, Ding HM. Loading of DOX into a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure: the corner does matter. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2022; 4:754-760. [PMID: 36131833 PMCID: PMC9416905 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00753j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development of nanotechnology, various DNA nanostructures have been synthesized and widely used in drug delivery. However, the underlying mechanisms of drug molecule loading into the DNA nanostructure are still elusive. In this work, we systematically investigate the interactions of a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) with the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) by combining molecular docking and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that there are five possible binding modes in the single TDN-DOX interactions, namely the outside-corner mode, the inside-corner mode, the major-groove mode, the minor-groove mode, and the intercalation mode, where the van der Waals (VDW) interaction and the electrostatic (ELE) interaction dominate in the case of unionized DOX and ionized DOX, respectively. Moreover, with the increase of the DOX number, some of the interaction modes may disappear and the inside-corner mode is the most energy-favorable mode. The present study enhances the molecular understanding of the role of TDN as the drug carrier, which may provide a useful guideline for the future design of DNA nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 China
| | - Shu-Wei Huang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 China
| | - Yu-Qiang Ma
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 China
| | - Hong-Ming Ding
- Center for Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Interdisciplinary Research, School of Physical Science and Technology, Soochow University Suzhou 215006 China
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Abstract
Invention of DNA origami has transformed the fabrication and application of biological nanomaterials. In this review, we discuss DNA origami nanoassemblies according to their four fundamental mechanical properties in response to external forces: elasticity, pliability, plasticity and stability. While elasticity and pliability refer to reversible changes in structures and associated properties, plasticity shows irreversible variation in topologies. The irreversible property is also inherent in the disintegration of DNA nanoassemblies, which is manifested by its mechanical stability. Disparate DNA origami devices in the past decade have exploited the mechanical regimes of pliability, elasticity, and plasticity, among which plasticity has shown its dominating potential in biomechanical and physiochemical applications. On the other hand, the mechanical stability of the DNA origami has been used to understand the mechanics of the assembly and disassembly of DNA nano-devices. At the end of this review, we discuss the challenges and future development of DNA origami nanoassemblies, again, from these fundamental mechanical perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Ji
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA.
| | - Deepak Karna
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA.
| | - Hanbin Mao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA.
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AS1411 Aptamer Linked to DNA Nanostructures Diverts Its Traffic Inside Cancer Cells and Improves Its Therapeutic Efficacy. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101671. [PMID: 34683964 PMCID: PMC8541364 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleolin-binding G-quadruplex AS1411 aptamer has been widely used for cancer therapy and diagnosis and linked to nanoparticles for its selective targeting activity. We applied a computational and experimental integrated approach to study the effect of engineering AS1411 aptamer on an octahedral truncated DNA nanocage to obtain a nanostructure able to combine selective cancer-targeting and anti-tumor activity. The nanocages functionalized with one aptamer molecule (Apt-NC) displayed high stability in serum, were rapidly and selectively internalized in cancer cells through an AS1411-dependent mechanism, and showed over 200-fold increase in anti-cancer activity when compared with the free aptamer. Comparison of Apt-NCs and free AS1411 intracellular distribution showed that they traffic differently inside cells: Apt-NCs distributed through the endo-lysosomal pathway and were never found in the nuclei, while the free AS1411 was mostly found in the perinuclear region and in nucleoli. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the aptamer, when linked to the nanocage, sampled a limited conformational space, more confined than in the free state, which is characterized by a large number of metastable conformations. A different intracellular trafficking of Apt-NCs compared with free aptamer and the confined aptamer conformations induced by the nanocage were likely correlated with the high cytotoxic enhancement, suggesting a structure-function relationship for the AS1411 aptamer activity.
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Abstract
Calcium phosphate nanoparticles have a high biocompatibility and biodegradability due to their chemical similarity to human hard tissue, for example, bone and teeth. They can be used as efficient carriers for different kinds of biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, antibodies, or drugs, which alone are not able to enter cells where their biological effect is required. They can be loaded with cargo molecules by incorporating them, unlike solid nanoparticles, and also by surface functionalization. This offers protection, for example, against nucleases, and the possibility for cell targeting. If such nanoparticles are functionalized with fluorescing dyes, they can be applied for imaging in vitro and in vivo. Synthesis, functionalization and cell uptake mechanisms of calcium phosphate nanoparticles are discussed together with applications in transfection, gene silencing, imaging, immunization, and bone substitution. Biodistribution data of calcium phosphate nanoparticles in vivo are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoriya Sokolova
- Inorganic chemistryUniversity of Duisburg-EssenUniversitaetsstr. 5–745117EssenGermany
| | - Matthias Epple
- Inorganic chemistryUniversity of Duisburg-EssenUniversitaetsstr. 5–745117EssenGermany
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Raniolo S, Unida V, Vindigni G, Stolfi C, Iacovelli F, Desideri A, Biocca S. Combined and selective miR-21 silencing and doxorubicin delivery in cancer cells using tailored DNA nanostructures. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:7. [PMID: 33414439 PMCID: PMC7791072 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03339-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play an important role in tumorigenesis and, among them, miR-21 is found to be aberrantly up-regulated in various tumors. The tumor-associated antigen, folate receptor alpha is a GPI-membrane protein overexpressed in many malignant tumors of epithelial origin, including ovarian and cervical cancers. Covalently bound octahedral DNA nanocages were functionalized with folate molecules and utilized as scaffolds to engineer four sequestering units with a miR-21 complementary sequence for obtaining biocompatible Fol-miR21-NC non-toxic nanostructures, to be able to selectively recognize folate receptor alpha-overexpressing cancer cells and sequester the oncogenic miR-21. qPCR assays showed that Fol-miR21-NCs reduce the miR-21 expression up to 80% in cancer cells in the first 2 days of treatment. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-21 sequestering leads to up-regulation of miR-21 tumor suppressor targets (i.e., PTEN and Pdcd4), reduction in cancer cell migration, reduction in proliferation, and increase in cell death. Fol-miR21-NCs can be efficiently loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin. Co-delivery of anti-miR-21 and doxorubicin showed additive cytotoxic effects on tumor cells, paving the way for their use as selective nucleic acid drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Raniolo
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Unida
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Vindigni
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Stolfi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Iacovelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Biocca
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Ruks T, Loza K, Heggen M, Prymak O, Sehnem AL, Oliveira CLP, Bayer P, Beuck C, Epple M. Peptide-Conjugated Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles (2 nm) for Selective Protein Targeting. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Ruks
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Kateryna Loza
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Marc Heggen
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Oleg Prymak
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Andre Luiz Sehnem
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1371, São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Cristiano L. P. Oliveira
- Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, Rua do Matão 1371, São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Peter Bayer
- Department of Structural and Medicinal Biochemistry, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Christine Beuck
- Department of Structural and Medicinal Biochemistry, Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Epple
- Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany
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12
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The allosteric activation mechanism of a phospholipase A 2-like toxin from Bothrops jararacussu venom: a dynamic description. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16252. [PMID: 33004851 PMCID: PMC7529814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73134-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation process of phospholipase A2-like (PLA2-like) toxins is a key step in their molecular mechanism, which involves oligomeric changes leading to the exposure of specific sites. Few studies have focused on the characterization of allosteric activators and the features that distinguish them from inhibitors. Herein, a comprehensive study with the BthTX-I toxin from Bothrops jararacussu venom bound or unbound to α-tocopherol (αT) was carried out. The oligomerization state of BthTX-I bound or unbound to αT in solution was studied and indicated that the toxin is predominantly monomeric but tends to oligomerize when complexed with αT. In silico molecular simulations showed the toxin presents higher conformational changes in the absence of αT,
which suggests that it is important to stabilize the structure of the toxin. The transition between the two states (active/inactive) was also studied, showing that only the unbound BthTX-I system could migrate to the inactive state. In contrast, the presence of αT induces the toxin to leave the inactive state, guiding it towards the active state, with more regions exposed to the solvent, particularly its active site. Finally, the structural determinants necessary for a molecule to be an inhibitor or activator were analyzed in light of the obtained results.
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13
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In Silico and In Cell Analysis of Openable DNA Nanocages for miRNA Silencing. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010061. [PMID: 31861821 PMCID: PMC6981788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A computational and experimental integrated approach was applied in order to study the effect of engineering four DNA hairpins into an octahedral truncated DNA nanocage, to obtain a nanostructure able to recognize and bind specific oligonucleotide sequences. Modeling and classical molecular dynamics simulations show that the new H4-DNA nanocage maintains a stable conformation with the closed hairpins and, when bound to complementary oligonucleotides produces an opened conformation that is even more stable due to the larger hydrogen bond number between the hairpins and the oligonucleotides. The internal volume of the open conformation is much larger than the closed one, switching from 370 to 650 nm3, and the predicted larger conformational change is experimentally detectable by gel electrophoresis. H4-DNA nanocages display high stability in serum, can efficiently enter the cells where they are stable and maintain the ability to bind, and sequester an intracellular-specific oligonucleotide. Moreover, H4-DNA nanocages, modified in order to recognize the oncogenic miR21, are able to seize miRNA molecules inside cells in a selective manner.
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14
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Ottaviani A, Iacovelli F, Idili A, Falconi M, Ricci F, Desideri A. Engineering a responsive DNA triple helix into an octahedral DNA nanostructure for a reversible opening/closing switching mechanism: a computational and experimental integrated study. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9951-9959. [PMID: 30247614 PMCID: PMC6212788 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose an experimental and simulative approach to study the effect of integrating a DNA functional device into a large-sized DNA nanostructure. We selected, as a test bed, a well-known and characterized pH-dependent clamp-switch, based on a parallel DNA triple helix, to be integrated into a truncated octahedral scaffold. We designed, simulated and experimentally characterized two different functionalized DNA nanostructures, with and without the presence of a spacer between the scaffold and the functional elements. The experimental and simulative data agree in validating the need of a spacer for the occurrence of the pH dependent switching mechanism. The system is fully reversible and the switching can be monitored several times without any perturbation, maintaining the same properties of the isolated clamp switch in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Ottaviani
- Biology Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Idili
- Chemistry Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Biology Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Francesco Ricci
- Chemistry Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
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15
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Iacovelli F, Cabungcal Hernandez K, Desideri A, Falconi M. Probing the Functional Topology of a pH-Dependent Triple Helix DNA Nanoswitch Family through Gaussian Accelerated MD Simulation. J Chem Inf Model 2019; 59:2746-2752. [PMID: 31074618 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The topology of a pH-dependent triple helix DNA nanoswitch family has been characterized through simulative analysis to evaluate the efficiency of the switching mechanism varying the length of the loop connecting the two strands forming the double helix portion. In detail, the system is formed by a double helix made by two six base complementary sequences, connected by one loop having an increasing number of thymidines, namely 5, 7, or 9. The triplex-forming sequence made by six bases, connected to the double helix through a constant 25 base loop, interacts at pH 5.0 through Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds with one strand of the double helical region. We demonstrate, through molecular dynamics simulation, that the thymidine loop length exerts a fine regulatory role for the stability of the triple helix structure and is critical in modulating the switching mechanism triggered by the pH increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Iacovelli
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB) , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Kevin Cabungcal Hernandez
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB) , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB) , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB) , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1 , 00133 Rome , Italy
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16
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Su Y, Li D, Liu B, Xiao M, Wang F, Li L, Zhang X, Pei H. Rational Design of Framework Nucleic Acids for Bioanalytical Applications. Chempluschem 2019; 84:512-523. [DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Su
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
| | - Bingyi Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
| | - Mingshu Xiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- Joint Research Center for Precision MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University & Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus 6600th Nanfeng Road, Fengxian District Shanghai 201499 P. R. China
| | - Li Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
| | - Xueli Zhang
- Joint Research Center for Precision MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong University & Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital South Campus 6600th Nanfeng Road, Fengxian District Shanghai 201499 P. R. China
- Southern Medical University Affiliated Fengxian Hospital Shanghai 201499 P. R. China
| | - Hao Pei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes School of Chemistry and Molecular EngineeringEast China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road Shanghai 200241 P.R. China
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17
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Tan X, Bruchez MP, Armitage BA. Closing the Loop: Constraining TAT Peptide by γPNA Hairpin for Enhanced Cellular Delivery of Biomolecules. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:2892-2898. [PMID: 30130094 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Based on the exceptionally high stability of γPNA duplexes, we designed a peptide/γPNA chimera in which a cell-penetrating TAT peptide is flanked by two short complementary γPNA segments. Intramolecular hybridization of the γPNA segments results in a stable hairpin conformation in which the TAT peptide is constrained to form the loop. The TAT/γPNA hairpin (self-cyclized TAT peptide) enters cells at least 10-fold more efficiently than its nonhairpin analog in which the two γPNA segments are noncomplementary. Extending one of the γPNA segments in the hairpin results in an overhang that can be used for binding and delivering a variety of nucleic acid-conjugated molecules into cells via hybridization to the overhang. We demonstrated efficient cellular delivery of a protein (as low as 10 nM) and a DNA tetrahedron by a TAT/γPNA hairpin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Tan
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology , Carnegie Mellon University , 4400 Fifth Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Marcel P Bruchez
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology , Carnegie Mellon University , 4400 Fifth Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States.,Department of Biological Sciences and Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center , Carnegie Mellon University , 4400 Fifth Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Bruce A Armitage
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology , Carnegie Mellon University , 4400 Fifth Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
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18
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Raniolo S, Vindigni G, Ottaviani A, Unida V, Iacovelli F, Manetto A, Figini M, Stella L, Desideri A, Biocca S. Selective targeting and degradation of doxorubicin-loaded folate-functionalized DNA nanocages. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2018; 14:1181-1190. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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19
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Hartl C, Frank K, Amenitsch H, Fischer S, Liedl T, Nickel B. Position Accuracy of Gold Nanoparticles on DNA Origami Structures Studied with Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:2609-2615. [PMID: 29498287 PMCID: PMC6544511 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
DNA origami objects allow for accurate positioning of guest molecules in three dimensions. Validation and understanding of design strategies for particle attachment as well as analysis of specific particle arrangements are desirable. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is suited to probe distances of nano-objects with subnanometer resolution at physiologically relevant conditions including pH and salt and at varying temperatures. Here, we show that the pair density distribution function (PDDF) obtained from an indirect Fourier transform of SAXS intensities in a model-free way allows to investigate prototypical DNA origami-mediated gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assemblies. We analyze the structure of three AuNP-dimers on a DNA origami block, an AuNP trimer constituted by those dimers, and a helical arrangement of nine AuNPs on a DNA origami cylinder. For the dimers, we compare the model-free PDDF and explicit modeling of the SAXS intensity data by superposition of scattering intensities of the scattering objects. The PDDF of the trimer is verified to be a superposition of its dimeric contributions, that is, here AuNP-DNA origami assemblies were used as test boards underlining the validity of the PDDF analysis beyond pairs of AuNPs. We obtain information about AuNP distances with an uncertainty margin of 1.2 nm. This readout accuracy in turn can be used for high precision placement of AuNP by careful design of the AuNP attachment sites on the DNA-structure and by fine-tuning of the connector types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Hartl
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Kilian Frank
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Heinz Amenitsch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Fischer
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Tim Liedl
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Bert Nickel
- Faculty of Physics and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
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20
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Intrinsic Dynamics Analysis of a DNA Octahedron by Elastic Network Model. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22010145. [PMID: 28275219 PMCID: PMC6155889 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22010145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is a fundamental component of living systems where it plays a crucial role at both functional and structural level. The programmable properties of DNA make it an interesting building block for the construction of nanostructures. However, molecular mechanisms for the arrangement of these well-defined DNA assemblies are not fully understood. In this paper, the intrinsic dynamics of a DNA octahedron has been investigated by using two types of Elastic Network Models (ENMs). The application of ENMs to DNA nanocages include the analysis of the intrinsic flexibilities of DNA double-helices and hinge sites through the calculation of the square fluctuations, as well as the intrinsic collective dynamics in terms of cross-collective map calculation coupled with global motions analysis. The dynamics profiles derived from ENMs have then been evaluated and compared with previous classical molecular dynamics simulation trajectories. The results presented here revealed that ENMs can provide useful insights into the intrinsic dynamics of large DNA nanocages and represent a useful tool in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology.
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21
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Xie N, Liu S, Yang X, He X, Huang J, Wang K. DNA tetrahedron nanostructures for biological applications: biosensors and drug delivery. Analyst 2017; 142:3322-3332. [DOI: 10.1039/c7an01154g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we review and summarise the development and biological applications of DNA tetrahedron, including cellular biosensors and drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuli Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
| | - Shiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
| | - Xiaohai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
| | - Xiaoxiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
| | - Jin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
| | - Kemin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Institute of Biology
- Hunan University
- Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province
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22
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Franch O, Iacovelli F, Falconi M, Juul S, Ottaviani A, Benvenuti C, Biocca S, Ho YP, Knudsen BR, Desideri A. DNA hairpins promote temperature controlled cargo encapsulation in a truncated octahedral nanocage structure family. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:13333-13341. [PMID: 27341703 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01806h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In the present study we investigate the mechanism behind temperature controlled cargo uptake using a truncated octahedral DNA cage scaffold functionalized with one, two, three or four hairpin forming DNA strands inserted in one corner of the structure. This investigation was inspired by our previous demonstration of temperature controlled reversible encapsulation of the cargo enzyme, horseradish peroxidase, in the cage with four hairpin forming strands. However, in this previous study the mechanism of cargo uptake was not directly addressed (Juul, et al., Temperature-Controlled Encapsulation and Release of an Active Enzyme in the Cavity of a Self-Assembled DNA Nanocage, ACS Nano, 2013, 7, 9724-9734). In the present study we use a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro analyses to unravel the mechanism of cargo uptake in hairpin containing DNA cages. We find that two hairpin forming strands are necessary and sufficient to facilitate efficient cargo uptake, which argues against a full opening-closing of one corner of the structure being responsible for encapsulation. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to evaluate the atomistic motions responsible for encapsulation and showed that the two hairpin forming strands facilitated extension of at least one of the face surfaces of the cage scaffold, allowing entrance of the cargo protein into the cavity of the structure. Hence, the presented data demonstrate that cargo uptake does not involve a full opening of the structure. Rather, the uptake mechanism represents a feature of increased flexibility integrated in this nanocage structure upon the addition of at least two hairpin-forming strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Franch
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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23
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Fischer S, Hartl C, Frank K, Rädler JO, Liedl T, Nickel B. Shape and Interhelical Spacing of DNA Origami Nanostructures Studied by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:4282-7. [PMID: 27184452 PMCID: PMC6544510 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Scaffolded DNA origami nanostructures enable the self-assembly of arbitrarily shaped objects with unprecedented accuracy. Yet, varying physiological conditions are prone to induce slight structural changes in the nanoscale architecture. Here, we report on high precision measurements of overall shape and interhelical distance of three prototypic DNA origami structures in solution using synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering. Sheet-, brick-, and cylinder-shaped DNA constructs were assembled and the shape factors determined with angstrom resolution from fits to the scattering profiles. With decreasing MgCl2 concentration electrostatic swelling of both shape cross section and interhelical DNA spacing of the DNA origami structures is observed. The structures tolerate up to 10% interhelical expansion before they disintegrate. In contrast, with increasing temperature, the cylinder-shaped structures show no thermal expansion in a wide temperature window before they abruptly melt above 50 °C. Details on molecular structure of DNA origami can also be obtained using in-house X-ray scattering equipment and, hence, allow for routine folding and stability testing of DNA-based agents that are designed to operate under varying salt conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Fischer
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Caroline Hartl
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Kilian Frank
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Joachim O. Rädler
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Tim Liedl
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
| | - Bert Nickel
- Fakultät für Physik and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München, Germany
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24
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Vindigni G, Raniolo S, Ottaviani A, Falconi M, Franch O, Knudsen BR, Desideri A, Biocca S. Receptor-Mediated Entry of Pristine Octahedral DNA Nanocages in Mammalian Cells. ACS NANO 2016; 10:5971-9. [PMID: 27214742 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.6b01402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
DNA offers excellent programming properties for the generation of nanometer-scaled polyhedral structures with a broad variety of potential applications. Translation to biomedical applications requires improving stability in biological fluids, efficient and selective cell binding, and/or internalization of the assembled DNA nanostructures. Here, we report an investigation on the selective mechanism of cellular uptake of pristine DNA nanocages in cells expressing the receptor "oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1" (LOX-1), a scavenger receptor associated with cardiovascular diseases and, more recently, identified as a tumor marker. For this purpose a truncated octahedral DNA nanocage functionalized with a single biotin molecule, which allows DNA cage detection through the biotin-streptavidin assays, was constructed. The results indicate that DNA nanocages are stable in biological fluids, including human serum, and are selectively bound and very efficiently internalized in vesicles only in LOX-1-expressing cells. The amount of internalized cages is 30 times higher in LOX-1-expressing cells than in normal fibroblasts, indicating that the receptor-mediated uptake of pristine DNA nanocages can be pursued for a selective cellular internalization. These results open the route for a therapeutic use of pristine DNA cages targeting LOX-1-overexpressing tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Vindigni
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Raniolo
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Ottaviani
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB), University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB), University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, Interuniversity Consortium, National Institute Biostructure and Biosystem (INBB), University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Biocca
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata , Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
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25
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Iacovelli F, Alves C, Falconi M, Oteri F, de Oliveira CLP, Desideri A. Influence of the single-strand linker composition on the structural/dynamical properties of a truncated octahedral DNA nano-cage family. Biopolymers 2016; 101:992-9. [PMID: 26819976 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The structural/dynamical properties of three truncated octahedral DNA nano-cages composed by identical double helices but single strand linkers with different composition, namely 7 thymidines, 7 adenines, and 7 alternated thymidines and adenines, have been investigated through classical molecular dynamics simulations. Trajectories have been analyzed to investigate the role of the linkers in defining nano-cages stability and flexibility, including possible influence on the internal cages motions. The data indicate that the cages behavior is almost identical and that the structural/dynamical parameters measured along the trajectories are not particularly affected by the presence of different bases. These results demonstrate that the constraints imposed by the nano-structure geometry are the main factor in modulating these properties
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26
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Alves C, Iacovelli F, Falconi M, Cardamone F, Morozzo Della Rocca B, de Oliveira CLP, Desideri A. A Simple and Fast Semiautomatic Procedure for the Atomistic Modeling of Complex DNA Polyhedra. J Chem Inf Model 2016; 56:941-9. [PMID: 27050675 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A semiautomatic procedure to build complex atomistic covalently linked DNA nanocages has been implemented in a user-friendly, free, and fast program. As a test set, seven different truncated DNA polyhedra, composed by B-DNA double helices connected through short single-stranded linkers, have been generated. The atomistic structures, including a tetrahedron, a cube, an octahedron, a dodecahedron, a triangular prism, a pentagonal prism, and a hexagonal prism, have been probed through classical molecular dynamics and analyzed to evaluate their structural and dynamical properties and to highlight possible building faults. The analysis of the simulated trajectories also allows us to investigate the role of the different geometries in defining nanocages stability and flexibility. The data indicate that the cages are stable and that their structural and dynamical parameters measured along the trajectories are slightly affected by the different geometries. These results demonstrate that the constraints imposed by the covalent links induce an almost identical conformational variability independently of the three-dimensional geometry and that the program presented here is a reliable and valid tool to engineer DNA nanostructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassio Alves
- Instituto de Fisica, Grupo de Fluidos Complexos, Universidade de São Paulo , Caixa Postal 66318, 05314-970 Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Engineering and Sciences, Federal University of Paraná , 85950-000 Palotina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Federico Iacovelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cardamone
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Blasco Morozzo Della Rocca
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiano L P de Oliveira
- Instituto de Fisica, Grupo de Fluidos Complexos, Universidade de São Paulo , Caixa Postal 66318, 05314-970 Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Desideri
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
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27
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Biocca S, Desideri A. The Potential of Nucleic Acid-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Application. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1142/s1793984415410044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The recent development of biomedical nanotechnology is providing the appropriate know-how to build novel nanocarriers/nanocapsules to be used in the pharmaceutical industry for delivery of drugs and/or therapeutic payloads to specific cells. DNA is an extremely suitable polymer for the generation of nanocapsules being biocompatible, stable and chemically modifiable. Moreover, the simple four bases mechanism allows the auto-assembly of geometrically defined systems. In this review, we describe the general properties of DNA nanocarriers, how they can be functionalized for different tasks, their interaction with cellular systems and we provide an outlook of their use in a therapeutic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Biocca
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy
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28
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Iacovelli F, Falconi M, Knudsen BR, Desideri A. Comparative simulative analysis of single and double stranded truncated octahedral DNA nanocages. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra27591a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spacefill view of double (DSL) and single (SSL) stranded linkers DNA cages. The blue atoms represent the shared cages scaffold, while the yellow atoms show the single stranded DNA oligonucleotides shaping the double stranded linkers of the DSL cage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Department of Biology
- University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
- 00133 Rome
- Italy
| | - Birgitta R. Knudsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Åarhus University
- Åarhus
- Denmark
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29
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Iacovelli F, Falconi M. Decoding the conformation-linked functional properties of nucleic acids by the use of computational tools. FEBS J 2015; 282:3298-310. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mattia Falconi
- Department of Biology; University of Rome “Tor Vergata”; Italy
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30
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Fakhoury JJ, McLaughlin CK, Edwardson TW, Conway JW, Sleiman HF. Development and Characterization of Gene Silencing DNA Cages. Biomacromolecules 2013; 15:276-82. [DOI: 10.1021/bm401532n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Johans J. Fakhoury
- Department
of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Christopher K. McLaughlin
- Department
of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of, Toronto, Room 514, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Thomas W. Edwardson
- Department
of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Justin W. Conway
- Department
of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Hanadi F. Sleiman
- Department
of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
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31
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Juul S, Iacovelli F, Falconi M, Kragh SL, Christensen B, Frøhlich R, Franch O, Kristoffersen EL, Stougaard M, Leong KW, Ho YP, Sørensen ES, Birkedal V, Desideri A, Knudsen BR. Temperature-controlled encapsulation and release of an active enzyme in the cavity of a self-assembled DNA nanocage. ACS NANO 2013; 7:9724-9734. [PMID: 24168393 DOI: 10.1021/nn4030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate temperature-controlled encapsulation and release of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase using a preassembled and covalently closed three-dimensional DNA cage structure as a controllable encapsulation device. The utilized cage structure was covalently closed and composed of 12 double-stranded B-DNA helices that constituted the edges of the structure. The double stranded helices were interrupted by short single-stranded thymidine linkers constituting the cage corners except for one, which was composed by four 32 nucleotide long stretches of DNA with a sequence that allowed them to fold into hairpin structures. As demonstrated by gel-electrophoretic and fluorophore-quenching experiments this design imposed a temperature-controlled conformational transition capability to the structure, which allowed entrance or release of an enzyme cargo at 37 °C while ensuring retainment of the cargo in the central cavity of the cage at 4 °C. The entrapped enzyme was catalytically active inside the DNA cage and was able to convert substrate molecules penetrating the apertures in the DNA lattice that surrounded the central cavity of the cage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sissel Juul
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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32
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Greene DG, Keum JW, Bermudez H. The role of defects on the assembly and stability of DNA nanostructures. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2012; 8:1320-1325. [PMID: 22354792 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201102221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Defects are known to underlie the mechanical properties of materials, especially so at the nanoscale. Using four compositionally identical DNA triangles, defect density is found to be inversely correlated with assembly efficiency and melting temperature. These findings are supported by a series of experiments with more complex DNA pyramids. Because they are naturally responsive to stresses, defects present an attractive opportunity as design elements for responsive DNA materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Greene
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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33
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Abstract
DNA polyhedra are cage-like architectures based on interlocked and interlinked DNA strands. We propose a formula which unites the basic features of these entangled structures. It is based on the transformation of the DNA polyhedral links into Seifert surfaces, which removes all knots. The numbers of components , of crossings , and of Seifert circles are related by a simple and elegant formula: . This formula connects the topological aspects of the DNA cage to the Euler characteristic of the underlying polyhedron. It implies that Seifert circles can be used as effective topological indices to describe polyhedral links. Our study demonstrates that, the new Euler's formula provides a theoretical framework for the stereo-chemistry of DNA polyhedra, which can characterize enzymatic transformations of DNA and be used to characterize and design novel cages with higher genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Hu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, People's Republic of China
- Department of Chemistry and INPAC institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wen-Yuan Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
| | - Arnout Ceulemans
- Department of Chemistry and INPAC institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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34
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Li H, LaBean TH, Leong KW. Nucleic acid-based nanoengineering: novel structures for biomedical applications. Interface Focus 2011; 1:702-24. [PMID: 23050076 PMCID: PMC3262286 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2011.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoengineering exploits the interactions of materials at the nanometre scale to create functional nanostructures. It relies on the precise organization of nanomaterials to achieve unique functionality. There are no interactions more elegant than those governing nucleic acids via Watson-Crick base-pairing rules. The infinite combinations of DNA/RNA base pairs and their remarkable molecular recognition capability can give rise to interesting nanostructures that are only limited by our imagination. Over the past years, creative assembly of nucleic acids has fashioned a plethora of two-dimensional and three-dimensional nanostructures with precisely controlled size, shape and spatial functionalization. These nanostructures have been precisely patterned with molecules, proteins and gold nanoparticles for the observation of chemical reactions at the single molecule level, activation of enzymatic cascade and novel modality of photonic detection, respectively. Recently, they have also been engineered to encapsulate and release bioactive agents in a stimulus-responsive manner for therapeutic applications. The future of nucleic acid-based nanoengineering is bright and exciting. In this review, we will discuss the strategies to control the assembly of nucleic acids and highlight the recent efforts to build functional nucleic acid nanodevices for nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 136 Hudson Hall, PO Box 90281, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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