On-Site-Activated Transmembrane Logic DNA Nanodevice Enables Highly Specific Imaging of Cancer Cells by Targeting Tumor-Related Nucleolin and Intracellular MicroRNA

Anal Chem. 2023 Oct 3;95(39):14746-14753. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02868. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Abstract

The ability to specifically image cancer cells is essential for cancer diagnosis; however, this ability is limited by the false positive associated with single-biomarker sensors and off-site activation of "always active" nucleic acid probes. Herein, we propose an on-site, activatable, transmembrane logic DNA (TLD) nanodevice that enables dual-biomarker sensing of tumor-related nucleolin and intracellular microRNA for highly specific cancer cell imaging. The TLD nanodevice is constructed by assembling a tetrahedral DNA nanostructure containing a linker (L)-blocker (B)-DNAzyme (D)-substrate (S) unit. AS-apt, a DNA strand containing an elongated segment and the AS1411 aptamer, is pre-anchored to nucleolin protein, which is specifically expressed on the membrane of cancer cells. Initially, the TLD nanodevice is firmly sealed by the blocker containing an AS-apt recognition zone, which prevents off-site activation. When the nanodevice encounters a target cancer cell, AS-apt (input 1) binds to the blocker and unlocks the sensing ability of the nanodevice for miR-21 (input 2). The TLD nanodevice achieves dual-biomarker sensing from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm, thereby ensuring cancer cell-specific imaging. This TLD nanodevice represents a promising strategy for the highly reliable analysis of intracellular biomarkers and a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and related biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide*
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Nucleolin
  • Phosphoproteins

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • DNA
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide