Background & Aims: The use of antisense oligonucleotide-based nanosystems for the detection and regulation of tumor-related gene expression is thought to be a promising approach for cancer diagnostics and therapies. Herein, we report that a cubic-shaped iron oxide nanoparticle (IONC) core nanobeacon is capable of delivering an HSP90α mRNA-specific molecular beacon (HSP90-MB) into living cells and enhancing T2-weighted MR imaging in a tumor model. Methods: The nanobeacons were built with IONC, generation 4 poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (G4 PAMAM), Pluronic P123 (P123) and HSP90-MB labeled with a quencher (BHQ1) and a fluorophore (Alexa Fluor 488). Results: After internalization by malignant cells overexpressing HSP90α, the fluorescence of the nanobeacon was recovered, thus distinguishing cancer cells from normal cells. Meanwhile, MB-mRNA hybridization led to enzyme activity that degraded DNA/RNA hybrids and resulted in downregulation of HSP90α at both the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the T2-weighted MR imaging ability of the nanobeacons was increased after PAMAM and P123 modification, which exhibited good biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. Conclusions: The nanobeacons show promise for applicability to tumor-related mRNA detection, regulation and multiscale imaging in the fields of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Keywords: HSP90α; cancer theranostics; iron oxide nanocubes; molecular beacon; poly(amidoamine) dendrimer.