Dual Engineering Interface-Driven Complementary Graphene Oxide-Protein Dimer Supramolecular Architecture Enables Nucleus Imaging and Therapy

Seeking a versatile nanoplatform for multimodal nucleus imaging and therapy is a challenging task. General complementary bottom-up bionanotechnology for controlling a 3D supramolecular coassembly is proposed. The dual engineering interface proof-of-concept of the supramolecular architecture can be demonstrated via a genetically engineered protein dimer and plasmonically engineered graphene oxide (GO). Incorporation of anisotropic plasmonic nanoparticles as an intercalation layer among the GO 3D supramolecular architecture can provide covalent conjugation sites and simultaneously endow tunable optical properties of GO, ranging from the ultraviolet-to-near-infrared region. Interestingly, the precise design of a specific two-site mutation of the plasmid is favorable for giving an organized coassembly instead of random networks of GO, which contributes to giving continuous distinguishable enhanced Raman imaging for tracking cancer cells. Unexpectedly, penetration into the cell nucleus via the submicro 3D supramolecular coassembly exhibits an excellent nucleus therapeutic potential of cancer cells.