DNA‐Tetrahedra Corona‐Modified Hydrogel Microcapsules: "Smart" ATP‐ or microRNA‐Responsive Drug Carriers. Issue 52 (9th November 2022) - Fischer, Amit
Abstract: The assembly of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐responsive and miRNA‐responsive DNA tetrahedra‐functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogel microcapsules is presented. The microcapsules are loaded with the doxorubicin‐dextran drug or with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a drug model. Selective unlocking of the respective microcapsules and the release of the loads in the presence of ATP or miRNA‐141 are demonstrated. Functionalization of the hydrogel microcapsules a with corona of DNA tetrahedra nanostructures yields microcarriers that revealed superior permeation into cells. This is demonstrated by the effective permeation of the DNA tetrahedra‐functionalized microcapsules into MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells, as compared to epithelial MCF‐10A nonmalignant breast cells. The superior permeation of the tetrahedra‐functionalized microcapsules into MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells, as compared to analog control hydrogel microcapsules modified with a corona of nucleic acid duplexes. The effective permeation of the stimuli‐responsive, drug‐loaded, DNA tetrahedra‐modified microcapsules yields drug carriers of superior and selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. Abstract : Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐ or miRNA‐141‐responsive DNA‐tetrahedra‐modified doxorubicin (DOX)‐dextran‐loaded microcapsules act as functional carriers for the selective chemotherapeutic treatment of MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells. The ATP‐ or miRNA‐stimulated release of the drugs from the carriers leads to effective in vitro killing of the cancer cells or to the in vivo inhibition of tumor growth in MDA‐MB‐231 tumor‐bearing mice.