Chitosan combined with molecular beacon for mir-155 detection and imaging in lung cancer

Recent advances in living cell nucleic acid probes based on nanomaterials for early cancer diagnosis

The early diagnosis of cancer is vital for effective treatment and improved prognosis. Tumor biomarkers, which can be used for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of cancer, have emerged as a topic of intense research interest in recent years. Nucleic acid, as a type of tumor biomarker, contains vital genetic information, which is of great significance for the occurrence and development of cancer. Currently, living cell nucleic acid probes, which enable the in situ imaging and dynamic monitoring of nucleic acids, have become a rapidly developing field. This review focuses on living cell nucleic acid probes that can be used for the early diagnosis of tumors. We describe the fundamental design of the probe in terms of three units and focus on the roles of different nanomaterials in probe delivery.

Early cancer detection using the fluorescent Ashwagandha chitosan nanoparticles combined with near-infrared light diffusion characterization: in vitro study

Early cancer diagnosis through characterizing light propagation and nanotechnology increases the survival rate. The present research is aimed at evaluating the consequence of using natural nanoparticles in cancer therapy and diagnosis. Colon cancer cells were differentiated from the normal cells via investigating light diffusion combined with the fluorescence effect of the Ashwagandha chitosan nanoparticles (Ash C NPs). Ionic gelation technique synthesized the Ash C NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscope, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential characterized Ash C NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzed Ash C NPs, chitosan, and Ashwagandha root water extract. Moreover, the MTT assay evaluated the cytotoxicity of Ash C NPs under the action of near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation. The MTT assay outcomes were statistically analyzed by Bonferroni post hoc multiple two-group comparisons using one-way variance analysis (ANOVA). Based on the Monte-Carlo simulation technique, the spatially resolved steady-state diffusely reflected light from the cancerous and healthy cells is acquired. The diffuse equation reconstructed the optical fluence rate using the finite element technique. The fluorescent effect of the nanoparticles was observed when the cells were irradiated with NIR. The MTT assay revealed a decrease in the cell viability under the action of Ash C NPs with and without laser irradiation. Colon cancer and normal cells were differentiated based on the optical characterization after laser irradiation. The light diffusion equation was successfully resolved for the fluence rate on cells' surfaces showing different normal and cancer cells values. Ash C NPs appeared its fluorescent effect in the presence of NIR laser.

The Fluorescent Effect of Withania Somnifera Chitosan Nanocomposite as an Effective Contrast Agent for Cancer Theragnostic: Experimental Study in Vitro

Nanomedicine and fluorescent optical imaging are effective in early cancer detection. The current study synthesized biocompatible nanocomposites from natural biomaterials towards inexpensive and safe cancer theragnostic. Two forms of nanocomposites were synthesized using the ionic gelation method: 1. Chitosan/ Withania Somnifera /tripolyphosphate nanocomposites, 2. Withania Somnifera/Chitosan nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and the transmission electron microscope. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzed the Withania Somnifera root water extract, Chitosan, and the synthesized nanocomposites. The cytotoxicity of the nanocomposites was investigated against the colon cancer cells (Caco2 cells) in the absence and the presence of laser (665 nm, 5 mW) irradiation. MTT assay evaluated the cytotoxicity, and Trypan blue assay assessed the cell viability. Cancerous cells were photographed under the inverted microscope in the presence and the absence of laser irradiation. Results were analyzed statistically using one-way variance (ANOVA) analysis with Bonferroni post-Hoc multiple two-group comparisons. The characterization results ensured the successful synthesis of Withania Somnifera/Chitosan nanocomposites. The results showed an increase in the cytotoxicity against colon carcinoma and a decrease in cell viability in the presence and absence of Near-infrared laser irradiation under the action of nanocomposites. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanocomposites increased by exposing the cells to the laser. The shining light of the nanocomposites appeared on the cells photographed under the inverted microscope. The synthesized natural nanocomposites promise systemic cytotoxicity will be efficient in molecular imaging in vivo applications.

Photocaged amplified FRET nanoflares: spatiotemporal controllable of mRNA-powered nanomachines for precise and sensitive microRNA imaging in live cells

There is considerable interest in creating a precise and sensitive strategy for in situ visualizing and profiling intracellular miRNA. Present here is a novel photocaged amplified FRET nanoflare (PAFN), which spatiotemporal controls of mRNA-powered nanomachine for precise and sensitive miRNA imaging in live cells. The PAFN could be activated remotely by light, be triggered by specific low-abundance miRNA and fueled by high-abundance mRNA. It offers high spatiotemporal control over the initial activity of nanomachine at desirable time and site, and a ‘one-to-more’ ratiometric signal amplification model. The PAFN, an unprecedented design, is quiescent during the delivery process. However, upon reaching the interest tumor site, it can be selectively activated by light, and then be triggered by specific miRNA, avoiding undesirable early activation and reducing nonspecific signals, allowing precise and sensitive detection of specific miRNA in live cells. This strategy may open new avenues for creating spatiotemporally controllable and endogenous molecule-powered nanomachine, facilitating application at biological and medical imaging.

Detection of miR-155-5p and imaging lung cancer for early diagnosis: in vitro and in vivo study

Purpose

Currently, the routine screening program has insufficient capacity for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Therefore, a type of chitosan-molecular beacon (CS-MB) probe was developed to recognize the miR-155-5p and image the lung cancer cells for the early diagnosis.

Methods

Based on the molecular beacon (MB) technology and nanotechnology, the CS-MB probe was synthesized self-assembly. There are four types of cells—three kinds of animal models and one type of histopathological sections of human lung cancer were utilized as models, including A549, SPC-A1, H446 lung cancer cells, tumor-initiating cells (TICs), subcutaneous and lung xenografts mice, and lox-stop-lox(LSL) K-ras G12D transgenic mice. The transgenic mice dynamically displayed the process from normal lung tissues to atypical hyperplasia, adenoma, carcinoma in situ, and adenocarcinoma. The different miR-155-5p expression levels in these cells and models were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The CS-MB probe was used to recognize the miR-155-5p and image the lung cancer cells by confocal microscopy in vitro and by living imaging system in vivo.

Results

The CS-MB probe could be used to recognize the miR-155-5p and image the lung cancer cells significantly in these cells and models. The fluorescence intensity trends detected by the CS-MB probe were similar to the expression levels trends of miR-155 tested by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity showed an increasing trend with the tumor progression in the transgenic mice model, and the occurrence and development of lung cancer were dynamically monitored by the differen fluorescence intensity. In addition, the miR-155-5p in human lung cancer tissues could be detected by the miR-155-5p MB.

Conclusion

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that the CS-MB probe could be utilized to recognize the miR-155-5p and image the lung cancer cells. It provided a novel experimental and theoretical basis for the early diagnosis of the disease. Also, the histopathological sections of human lung cancer research laid the foundation for subsequent preclinical studies. In addition, different MBs could be designed to detect other miRNAs for the early diagnosis of other tumors.

Nucleic-Acid Structures as Intracellular Probes for Live Cells

The chemical composition of cells at the molecular level determines their growth, differentiation, structure, and function. Probing this composition is powerful because it provides invaluable insight into chemical processes inside cells and in certain cases allows disease diagnosis based on molecular profiles. However, many techniques analyze fixed cells or lysates of bulk populations, in which information about dynamics and cellular heterogeneity is lost. Recently, nucleic-acid-based probes have emerged as a promising platform for the detection of a wide variety of intracellular analytes in live cells with single-cell resolution. Recent advances in this field are described and common strategies for probe design, types of targets that can be identified, current limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Identification and imaging of miR-155 in the early screening of lung cancer by targeted delivery of octreotide-conjugated chitosan-molecular beacon nanoparticles

Lung cancer is still the most common cancer globally. Early screening remains the key to improve the prognosis of patients. There is currently a lack of specific and sensitive methods for early screening of lung cancer. In recent years, studies have found that microRNA plays an important role in the occurrence and development of lung cancer and become a biological target in the early diagnosis of lung cancer. In this study, lung cancer cells, subcutaneous xenografts of lung cancer in nude mice, and Lox-Stop-lox K-ras G12D transgenic mice were used as models. The transgenic mice displayed the dynamic processes from normal lung tissue to atypical hyperplasia, adenomas, carcinoma in situ and lung adenocarcinoma. It was found that miR-155 and somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) were expressed in all the disease stages of transgenic mice. Through molecular beacon (MB) technology and nanotechnology, chitosan-molecular beacon (CS-MB) nanoparticles and targeted octreotide (OCT) were conjugated and synthesized. The octreotide-conjugated chitosan-molecular beacon nanoparticles (CS-MB-OCT) can specifically bind to SSTR2 expressed by the lung cancer cells to achieve the goal of identification of lung cancer cells and imaging miR-155 in vivo and in vitro. Fluorescence imaging at different disease stages of lung cancer in Lox-Stop-lox K-ras G12D transgenic mice was performed, and could dynamically monitor the occurrence and development of lung cancer by different fluorescence intensity ranges. The current research, in turn, provides new idea, new method, and new technology for the early screening of lung cancer.

Toward Highly Efficient Cancer Imaging and Therapy Using the Environment-Friendly Chitosan Nanoparticles and NIR Laser

Chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (C-TPP NPs) were synthesized to investigate their cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells (Caco2 cells) in the absence and the presence of a near-infrared (NIR) laser to evaluate their influence in cancer detection using the NIR laser and to evaluate the NIR laser on cancer treatment. The synthesized NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ZP), and transmission electronic microscope (TEM). The cytotoxicity was analyzed by the MTT test and the cell viability was assessed using the Trypan blue method. C-TPP NPs showed increased cytotoxicity and decreased cell viability against Caco2 cells. Upon laser exposure only, the cell viability decreased. The C-TPP NPs appeared to have a shining light on the cancerous cells which were photographed under the inverted microscope.

DNA-templated silver nanoclusters locate microRNAs in the nuclei of gastric cancer cells

Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is correlated with cancer progression. In vitro detection methods using extracts from cell lysis cannot provide information about the spatial distribution of miRNAs. Due to the development of miRNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), increasing amounts of intracellular expression information are being obtained. However, miRNA FISH suffers from weak signals and complex steps and thus remains very challenging. Herein, a strategy based on DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs/DNAs) and their G-rich fluorescence enhancement effect was developed for FISH detection of miRNAs in gastric cancer cells. The method combines hybridization and signal amplification into one step, which allows imaging of intracellular miRNAs immediately after hybridization. Most importantly, using the method based on our design, miR-101-3p, miR-16-5p and miR-19b-3p were found to be located in the nuclei of MGC803 cells with granulated shapes, indicating an unanticipated distribution pattern. In addition, before the final miRNA FISH, we performed an optimization of AgNCs/DNAs and their G-rich fluorescence enhancement effect; we found that the effect occurred at shorter wavelengths emitting green fluorescence, with weakened red fluorescence at longer wavelengths. However, the components involved in the FISH process impacted the fluorescence properties so greatly that the probes finally exhibited slightly strengthened red fluorescence signals. Our method enables facile visualization of miRNAs at the subcellular level, which may benefit the precise localization of miRNAs in single cells in the future.

Recent progress in live cell mRNA/microRNA imaging probes based on smart and versatile nanomaterials

We summarize the recent progress in live cell mRNA/miRNA imaging probes based on various versatile nanomaterials, describing their structures and their working principles of bio-imaging applications.

In Vitro Dose Studies on Chitosan Nanoplexes for microRNA Delivery in Breast Cancer Cells

Changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression levels that play important roles in regulation lead to many pathological events such as cancer. The miR-200 family is an important target in cancer therapy. The aim of this study is to equilibrate endogenous levels between cancer and noncancerous cells to prevent serious side effects of miR-200c- and miR-141-like metastatic colonization. For the first time, the characterization of miR-200c and miR-141 cluster containing chitosan nanoplexes was shown, and the optimization of miRNA expression levels by conducting dose studies in breast cancer cell lines was made. The mean diameter of chitosan/miR-141 and chitosan/miR-200c nanoplexes ranged from 296 to 355 nm and from 294 to 380 nm depending on the N/P ratio, respectively. The surface charge of nanoplexes was positive with zeta potential of +12 to +26 mV. While naked miRNA was degraded after 0 min in a 10% serum-containing medium, chitosan/miRNA nanoplexes were protected for 72 h. During the in vitro cellular uptake study, nanoplexes were observed to be accumulating in the cytoplasm or nucleus. After using different doses for miR-200c, the determined doses are 750, 100, and 750 ng in the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-435 cell lines, respectively. Doses were determined as 100 ng for MDA-MB-231 and 150 ng for MDA-MB-435 to reach endogenous miR-141 levels of MCF-10A. Our results suggest that chitosan nanoplexes for miR-200c and miR-141 are an efficient delivery system in terms of formulation and transfection. As a conclusion, dose studies are important to provide effective treatment with miRNAs.