Triggered Dimerization and Trimerization of DNA Tetrahedra for Multiplexed miRNA Detection and Imaging of Cancer Cells

Zhixin Zhou; Daoqing Fan; Jianbang Wang; Yang Sung Sohn; Rachel Nechushtai; Itamar Willner

doi:10.1002/smll.202007355

Triggered Dimerization and Trimerization of DNA Tetrahedra for Multiplexed miRNA Detection and Imaging of Cancer Cells

Small. 2021 Feb;17(6):e2007355. doi: 10.1002/smll.202007355. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Authors

Zhixin Zhou¹, Daoqing Fan¹, Jianbang Wang¹, Yang Sung Sohn², Rachel Nechushtai², Itamar Willner¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Chemistry, The Minerva Center for Biohybrid Complex Systems, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
² Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.

PMID: 33470517
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202007355

Abstract

The reversible and switchable triggered reconfiguration of tetrahedra nanostructures from monomer tetrahedra structures into dimer or trimer structures is introduced. The triggered bridging of monomer tetrahedra by K⁺ -ion-stabilized G-quadruplexes or T-A•T triplexes leads to dimer or trimer tetrahedra structures that are separated by crown ether or basic pH conditions, respectively. The signal-triggered dimerization/trimerization of DNA tetrahedra structures is used to develop multiplexed miRNA-sensing platforms, and the tetrahedra mixture is used for intracellular sensing and imaging of miRNAs.

Keywords: DNA nanotechnology; G-quadruplexes; fluorescence; logic gates; sensors; triplexes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

DNA
Dimerization
G-Quadruplexes*
MicroRNAs*
Nanostructures*
Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging

Substances

MicroRNAs
DNA