A DNA Molecular Logic Circuit for Precise Tumor Identification.

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are not exclusively expressed in cancer cells, inevitably causing the "on target, off tumor" effect of molecular recognition tools. To achieve precise recognition of cancer cells, by using protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) as a model TAA, a DNA molecular logic circuit Aisgc8 was rationally developed by arranging H-binding i-motif, ATP-binding aptamer, and PTK7-targeting aptamer Sgc8c in a DNA sequence. Aisgc8 output the conformation of Sgc8c to recognize PTK7 on cells in a simulated tumor microenvironment characterized by weak acidity and abundant ATP, but not in a simulated physiological environment.

Self-assembled Pt(II) metallacycles enable precise cancer combination chemotherapy.

Combination chemotherapy, which involves the simultaneous use of multiple anticancer drugs in adequate combinations to disrupt multiple mechanisms associated with tumor growth, has shown advantages in enhanced therapeutic efficacy and lower systemic toxicity relative to monotherapy. Herein, we employed coordination-driven self-assembly to construct discrete Pt(II) metallacycles as monodisperse, modular platforms for combining camptothecin and combretastatin A4, two chemotherapy agents with a disparate mechanism of action, in precise arrangements for combination chemotherapy. Formulation of the drug-loaded metallacycles with folic acid–functionalized amphiphilic diblock copolymers furnished nanoparticles with good solubility and stability in physiological conditions.

DNA-supramolecule conjugates in theranostics.

The elegant properties of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), such as accurate recognition, programmability and addressability, make it a well-defined and promising material to develop various molecular probes, drug delivery carriers and theranostic systems for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In addition, supramolecular chemistry, also termed "chemistry beyond the molecule", is a promising research field that aims to develop functional chemical systems by bringing discrete molecular components together in a manner that invokes noncovalent intermolecular forces, such as hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, and shape or size matching. Thus, DNA-supramolecule conjugates (DSCs) combine accurate recognition, programmability and addressability of DNA with the greater toolbox of supramolecular chemistry.

Molecular Engineering-Based Aptamer-Drug Conjugates with Accurate Tunability of Drug Ratios for Drug Combination Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Polytherapy (or drug combination cancer therapy (DCCT)), targeting multiple mechanisms associated with tumor proliferation, can efficiently maximize therapeutic efficacy, decrease drug dosage, and reduce drug resistance. However, most DCCT strategies cannot coordinate the specific delivery of a drug combination in an accurately tuned ratio into cancer cells. To address these limitations, the present work reports the engineering of circular bivalent aptamer-drug conjugates (cb-ApDCs).

Interaction of Anthracycline 3'-azido-epirubicin with Calf Thymus DNA via Spectral and Molecular Modeling Techniques.

Anthracycline antibiotics are extensively applied to clinical antitumor therapy. The binding mode and mechanism of a new anthracycline 3'-azido-epirubicin (AEPI) with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) were investigated employing multiple spectroscopy techniques in Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.4).

Side population cells isolated from KATO III human gastric cancer cell line have cancer stem cell-like characteristics.

Aim: To investigate whether the side population (SP) cells possess cancer stem cell-like characteristics in vitro and the role of SP cells in tumorigenic process in gastric cancer.

Methods: We analyzed the presence of SP cells in different human gastric carcinoma cell lines, and then isolated and identified the SP cells from the KATO III human gastric cancer cell line by flow cytometry. The clonogenic ability and self-renewal were evaluated by clone and sphere formation assays.

Side population cells from HXO-Rb44 retinoblastoma cell line have cancer-initiating property.

Aim: To ascertain whether side population (SP) cells in HXO-Rb44 retinoblastoma cell line have cancer stem cell-like property in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: We analyzed and sorted SP from HXO-Rb44 retinoblastoma cell line by Hoechst 33342 staining on flow cytometry. SP and NSP cells were determined their ability of proliferation and self-renewal by SP reanalysis, soft agar assay and tumor sphere assay in vitro.