Functional DNA-Containing Nanomaterials: Cellular Applications in Biosensing, Imaging, and Targeted Therapy

• DOI: 10.1021/ar500078f
• Publication Date: 2014-04-29T20:05:59Z
• Authors: Hao Liang; Xiao-Bing Zhang; Yifan Lv; Liang Gong; Ruowen Wang; Xiaoyan Zhu; Ronghua Yang; Weihong Tan
• Keywords: Aptamer; Nanomaterials; Bioanalysis

ConspectusDNA performs a vital function as carrier of genetic code, but in the field nanotechnology, DNA molecules can catalyze chemical reactions cell, that is, DNAzymes, or bind with target-specific ligands, aptamers. These functional DNAs different modifications have been developed for sensing, imaging, and therapeutic systems. Thus, hold great promise future applications nanotechnology bioanalysis. However, these face challenges, especially biomedicine. For example, typically require use cationic transfection reagents to realize cellular uptake. Such enter cells, increasing difficulty performing bioassays vivo potentially damaging cell's nucleus. To address this obstacle, nanomaterials, such metallic, carbon, silica, magnetic materials, utilized carriers assistants. In Account, we describe selected examples DNA-containing nanomaterials their from our recent research those others. As models, chosen highlight DNA/nanomaterial complexes consisting gold nanoparticles, graphene oxides, aptamer–micelles, illustrate potential biosensing, medical diagnostics.Under proper conditions, multiple ligand–receptor interactions, decreased steric hindrance, increased surface roughness be achieved high density is bound resulting higher affinity complementary other targets. addition, causes local salt concentration negative charge density, which prevent degradation. DNAzymes assembled on nanoparticles effectively even living cells. And it has confirmed DNA–nanomaterial cells more easily than free single-stranded DNA.Nanomaterials designed synthesized needed sizes shapes, they possess unique physical properties, make them useful assistants, excellent signal reporters, transducers, amplifiers. When are combined create novel assay platforms, highly sensitive biosensing high-resolution imaging result. oxides quench fluorescence efficiently achieve low background increase signal-to-background ratio. Meanwhile, themselves colorimetric reporters because optical absorptions between monodispersion aggregation.DNA self-assembled contain several properties both nanomaterials. Compared complexes, closely resemble beings, therefore lower cytotoxicity at concentrations. Functional self-assemblies also multivalent reaction three-dimensional nanostructures cell Now future, envision bases making designer many challenging confronting chemists. With further development artificial using smart organic synthesis, macromolecules based elegant molecular assembly approaches expected diversity, additional versatility, advanced functions.