Supramolecular aptamer nano-constructs for receptor-mediated targeting and light-triggered release of chemotherapeutics into cancer cells.

Platforms for targeted drug-delivery must simultaneously exhibit serum stability, efficient directed cell internalization, and triggered drug release. Here, using lipid-mediated self-assembly of aptamers, we combine multiple structural motifs into a single nanoconstruct that targets hepatocyte growth factor receptor (cMet). The nanocarrier consists of lipidated versions of a cMet-binding aptamer and a separate lipidated GC-rich DNA hairpin motif loaded with intercalated doxorubicin.

Expanding the Toolbox of Photoswitches for DNA Nanotechnology Using Arylazopyrazoles.

Photoregulation is among the most promising tools for development of dynamic DNA nanosystems, due to its high spatiotemporal precision, biocompatibility, and ease of use. So far, azobenzene and its derivatives have shown high potential in photocontrolling DNA duplex hybridization by light-dependent photoisomerization. Despite many recent advances, obtaining sufficiently high photoswitching efficiency under conditions more suitable for work with DNA nanostructures are challenging.

Efficient separation of conjugated polymers using a water soluble glycoprotein matrix: from fluorescence materials to light emitting devices.

Optically active bio-composite blends of conjugated polymers or oligomers are fabricated by complexing them with bovine submaxilliary mucin (BSM) protein. The BSM matrix is exploited to host hydrophobic extended conjugated π-systems and to prevent undesirable aggregation and render such materials water soluble. This method allows tuning the emission color of solutions and films from the basic colors to the technologically challenging white emission.

DNA-nanoparticle assemblies go organic: macroscopic polymeric materials with nanosized features.

Background: One of the goals in the field of structural DNA nanotechnology is the use of DNA to build up 2- and 3-D nanostructures. The research in this field is motivated by the remarkable structural features of DNA as well as by its unique and reversible recognition properties. Nucleic acids can be used alone as the skeleton of a broad range of periodic nanopatterns and nanoobjects and in addition, DNA can serve as a linker or template to form DNA-hybrid structures with other materials.

A fluorogenic reaction based on heavy-atom removal for ultrasensitive DNA detection.

Fluorogenic reactions have recently emerged as a powerful tool for detection, diagnostics, and biosensing applications in a chemical and biological context. However, conventional fluorogenic systems reported to date rely on energy- or photoinduced electron transfer within the probes. Our communication demonstrates a conceptually new approach for generating a strong fluorescence signal through chemical bond formation mediated by a heavy-atom removal process.