Nucleolin-Targeted DNA Nanotube for Precise Cancer Therapy through Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-Indicated Telomerase Responsiveness

Anal Chem. 2021 Feb 23;93(7):3526-3534. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04917. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

Abstract

Precise drug delivery holds great promise in cancer treatment but still faces challenges in controllable drug release in tumor cells specifically. Herein, a nucleolin-targeted and telomerase-responsive DNA nanotube for drug release was developed. First, a DNA nanosheet with four capture strands on its surface was prepared, which could bind and load ricin A chain (RTA). The RTA-loaded nanosheet was further converted into a DNA nanotube with a high Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency in the presence of a Cy3-modified DNA fastener by hybridizing with the Cy5-modified DNA and another DNA-containing telomerase primer sequence along the long sides. Moreover, the aptamer of nucleolin was assembled on the DNA nanotube by combining with the hybrid chain at the terminal. The aptamer-functionalized and RTA-loaded DNA nanotube displayed enhanced tumor permeability and precise drug release in response to the telomerase in tumor cells, following the change of the FRET signal and RTA-induced cell death. Moreover, the DNA nanotube was applied successfully in vivo, and there was an obvious inhibition of tumor growth on xenograft-bearing mice following systemic administration, indicating that the constructed DNA nanotube represents a promising platform for precise RTA delivery in target cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA
  • Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer
  • Mice
  • Nanotubes*
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Nucleolin
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Telomerase* / genetics
  • Telomerase* / metabolism

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • DNA
  • Telomerase