A DNA-based nanocarrier for efficient cancer therapy

Muhammad Abbas, Mirza Muhammad Faran Ashraf Baig, Yaliang Zhang, Yu Shun Yang, Songyu Wu, Yiqiao Hu*, Zhong Chang Wang*, Hai Liang Zhu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Articlepeer-review

Abstract

The study aimed to achieve enhanced targeted cytotoxicity and cell-internalization of cisplatin-loaded deoxyribonucleic acid-nanothread (CPT-DNA-NT), mediated by scavenger receptors into HeLa cells. DNA-NT was developed with stiff-topology utilizing circular-scaffold to encapsulate CPT. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization of the DNA-NT showed uniformity in the structure with a diameter of 50–150 nm and length of 300–600 nm. The successful fabrication of the DNA-NT was confirmed through native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, as large the molecular-weight (polymeric) DNA-NT did not split into constituting strands under applied current and voltage. The results of cell viability confirmed that blank DNA-NT had the least cytotoxicity at the highest concentration (512 nM) with a viability of 92% as evidence of its biocompatibility for drug delivery. MTT assay showed superior cytotoxicity of CPT-DNA-NT than that of the free CPT due to the depot release of CPT after DNA-NT internalization. The DNA-NT exhibited targeted cell internalizations with the controlled intracellular release of CPT (from DNA-NT), as illustrated in confocal images. Therefore, in vitro cytotoxicity assessment through flow cytometry showed enhanced apoptosis (72.7%) with CPT-DNA-NT (compared to free CPT; 64.4%). CPT-DNA-NT, being poly-anionic, showed enhanced endocytosis via scavenger receptors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)330-339
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis
Volume11
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Xi'an Jiaotong University

Keywords

  • Caveolae
  • Cisplatin
  • DNA-nanothread
  • Drug delivery
  • HeLa cell line
  • Scavenger receptors

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