Dual-Locked DNAzyme Platform for In Vitro and In Vivo Discrimination of Cancer Cells

Anal Chem. 2022 Sep 6;94(35):12221-12230. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02788. Epub 2022 Aug 24.

Abstract

Imaging of tumor-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) can provide abundant information for cancer diagnosis, whereas the occurrence of trace amounts of miRNAs in normal cells inevitably causes an undesired false-positive signal in the discrimination of cancer cells during miRNA imaging. In this study, we propose a dual-locked (D-locked) platform consisting of the enzyme/miRNA-D-locked DNAzyme sensor and the honeycomb MnO2 nanosponge (hMNS) nanocarrier for highly specific cancer cell imaging. For a proof-of-concept demonstration, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) and miR-21 were chosen as key models. The hMNS nanocarrier can efficiently release the D-locked DNAzyme sensor in living cells due to the decomposition of hMNS by glutathione, which can also supply Mn2+ for DNAzyme cleavage. Ascribing to the smart design of the D-locked DNAzyme sensor, the fluorescence signal can only be generated by the synergistic response of APE1 and miR-21 that are overexpressed in cancer cells. Compared with the miRNA single-locked DNAzyme sensor and the small-molecule (ATP)/miRNA D-locked DNAzyme sensor, the proposed enzyme (APE1)/miRNA D-locked DNAzyme sensor exhibited 2.6-fold and 2.4-fold higher discrimination ratio (Fcancer/Fnormal) for cancer cell discrimination, respectively. Owing to the superior performance, the D-locked strategy can selectively generate a fluorescence signal in cancer cells, facilitating accurate discrimination of cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this D-locked platform is easily adaptable toward other target molecules by redesigning the DNA sequences. The outstanding performance and expansibility of this D-locked platform holds promising prospects for cancer diagnosis and related biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • DNA, Catalytic* / genetics
  • Manganese Compounds
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Neoplasms*
  • Oxides

Substances

  • DNA, Catalytic
  • Manganese Compounds
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oxides