Enhancing the Nucleolytic Resistance and Bioactivity of Functional Nucleic Acids by Diverse Nanostructures through in Situ Polymerization-Induced Self-assembly.

Functional nucleic acids (FNAs) are garnering tremendous interest owing to their high modularity and unique bioactivity. Three-dimensional FNAs have been developed to overcome the issues of nuclease degradation and limited cell uptake. We have developed a new facile approach to the synthesis of multiple three-dimensional FNA nanostructures by harnessing photo-polymerization-induced self-assembly. Sgc8 aptamer and CpG oligonucleotide were modified as macro chain-transfer reagents to mediate in situ polymerization and self-assembly. Diverse structures, including micelles, rods, and short worms, afford these two FNAs afford these two FNAs with higher nuclease resistance in serum serum, greater cellular uptake efficiency, and increased bioactivity.