Muhammad Abbas,Mirza Muhammad Faran Ashraf Baig,Yaliang Zhang,Yu-Shun Yang,Songyu Wu,Yiqiao Hu,Zhong-Chang Wang,Hai-Liang Zhu
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.
Hu Yufang,Zhang Qingqing,Xu Lihua,Wang Jiao,Rao Jiajia,Guo Zhiyong,Wang Sui
Electrochemical methods allow fast and inexpensive analysis of enzymatic activity. Here, a simple and yet efficient “signal-on” electrochemical assay for sensitive, label-free detection of DNA-related enzyme activity was established on the basis of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated extension strategy. TdT, which is a template-independent DNA polymerase, can catalyze the sequential addition of deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) at the 3’-OH terminus of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA); then, the TdT-yield T-rich DNA nanowires can be employed as the synthetic template of copper nanoclusters (CuNCs). Grown DNA nanowires-templated CuNCs (noted as DNA-CuNCs) were attached onto graphene oxide (GO) surface and exhibited unique electrocatalytic activity to H 2 O 2 reduction. Under optimal conditions, the proposed biosensor was utilized for quantitatively monitoring TdT activity, with the observed LOD of 0.1 U/mL. It also displayed high selectivity to TdT with excellent stability, and offered a facile, convenient electrochemical method for TdT-relevant inhibitors screening. Moreover, the proposed sensor was successfully used for BamHI activity detection, in which a new 3′-OH terminal was exposed by the digestion of a phosphate group. Ultimately, it has good prospects in DNA-related enzyme-based biochemical studies, disease diagnosis, and drug discovery.
Extraordinary TdT-generated DNA-CuNCs are synthesized and act as a novel electrochemical sensing platform for sensitive detection of TdT and BamHI activity in biological environments.
An amplified colorimetric detection of Hg 2+ is proposed by combining T–Hg 2+ –T base pairs and hybridization chain reaction (HCR). Two hairpins consisting of three-fourths and one-fourth of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-mimicking DNAzyme in inactive configuration are used as functional elements. In the presence of Hg 2+ , one of the hairpins is opened by an assistant probe with the help of T–Hg 2+ –T base pairs and this triggers an autonomous cross-opening of the two hairpins using the strand displacement principle, resulting in the formation of DNA nanowires consisting of numerous reunited Q-quadruplex DNAzyme units. The resulting catalytically active hemin/G-quadruplex HRP-mimicking DNAzymes catalyze the oxidation of ABTS 2− by H 2 O 2 into a green-colored cationic radical ABTS •+ for the colorimetric readout. This “turn-on” sensing system enables the high sensitive and selective detection of aqueous Hg 2+ with a detection limit of 9.7 pM.