Multiplex bioimaging of piRNA molecular pathway-regulated theragnostic effects in a single breast cancer cell using a piRNA molecular beacon.

Recently, PIWI-interacting small non-coding RNAs (piRNAs) have emerged as novel cancer biomarkers candidate because of their high expression level in various cancer types and role in the control of tumor suppressor genes. In this study, a novel breast cancer theragnostics probe based on a single system targeting the piRNA-36026 (piR-36026) molecular pathway was developed using a piR-36026 molecular beacon (MB). The piR-36026 MB successfully visualized endogenous piR-36026 biogenesis, which is highly expressed in MCF7 cells (a human breast cancer cell line), and simultaneously inhibited piR-36026-mediated cancer progression in vitro and in vivo.

VisuFect-mediated siRNA delivery into zygotes.

Current methods for delivering foreign genetic materials into mammalian cells are highly successful. However, these methods cannot be applied in oocyte or embryo systems due to their toxicity and low efficiency. Moreover, no satisfactory methods exist for delivering foreign genetic material without inducing physical damage to membranes.

A self-assembling magnetic resonance beacon for the detection of microRNA-1.

A self-assembling magnetic resonance beacon was used to visualize the microRNA-1 expression-dependent change in magnetic resonance signal intensity.

Bioimaging of the microRNA-294 expression-dependent color change in cells by a dual fluorophore-based molecular beacon.

A dual fluorophore-based color-tunable molecular beacon visualized the microRNA-294 expression-dependent color change in cells.