Article Title

Near-infrared light-activated cancer cell targeting and drug delivery with aptamer-modified nanostructures

Authors

Yu Yang, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida daUniversidade, Taipa, Macau, China
Jingjing Liu, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Xiaoqi Sun, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Liangzhu Feng, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Wenwen Zhu, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Zhuang Liu, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Meiwan Chen, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida daUniversidade, Taipa, Macau, China

Keywords

near-infrared (NIR)-activable, drug delivery, aptamer, gold nanorods, single-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Stimuli-activated targeted delivery systems for highly accurate treatment of tumors have received considerable attention in recent years. Herein, we reveal a light-activable cancer-targeting strategy that uses a complementary DNA sequence to hybridize and mask sgc8 aptamers conjugated onto photothermal agents such as gold nanorods or single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) laser, localized photothermal heating of the surface of those nano-agents results in dehybridization of the double-stranded DNA and uncaging of the aptamer sequence to allow specific cancer-cell targeting. Utilizing doxorubicin-loaded SWNTs as a model system, targeted drug delivery to cancer cells activated by NIR light was achieved. This work demonstrates the concept of NIR-activable tumor-targeting delivery systems with controllable cancer-cell binding to potentially enable highly specific and efficient cancer therapy.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-015-0898-4

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Yu Yang,Jingjing Liu,Xiaoqi Sun,Liangzhu Feng,Wenwen Zhu,Zhuang Liu,Meiwan Chen, Near-infrared light-activated cancer cell targeting and drug delivery with aptamer-modified nanostructures. NanoRes.2016, 9(1): 139–148