DNA-Controlled Encapsulation of Small Molecules in Protein Nanoparticles

Abstract

A nanoparticle can hold multiple types of therapeutic and imaging agents for disease treatment and diagnosis. However, controlling the storage of molecules in nanoparticles is challenging, because nonspecific intermolecular interactions are used for encapsulation. Here, we used specific DNA interactions to store molecules in nanoparticles. We made nanoparticles containing DNA anchors to capture DNA-conjugated small molecules. By changing the sequences and stoichiometry of DNA anchors, we can control the amount and ratio of molecules with different chemical properties in the nanoparticles. We modified the cytotoxicity of our nanoparticles to cancer cells by changing the ratio of encapsulated drugs (mertansine and doxorubicin). Specifically controlling the storage of multiple types of molecules allows us to optimize the properties of combination drug and imaging nanoparticles.

Supramolecular 3 in 1: A Lubrication and Co-Delivery System for Synergistic Advanced Osteoarthritis Therapy

“…Supramolecular chemistry provides a promising avenue to realize combination therapy due to the advantages of supramolecular materials, including reversibility, stimulus-response, self-healing, and modularity. − Recently, macrocycle-based supramolecular biomaterials have been engaged in combination therapy. − Macrocycle-based delivery systems demonstrated noteworthy advantages in precise proportional loading and synchronized release of multiple drugs. The properties are crucial for maximizing synergistic efficacy by leveraging the quantified binding constant of guest encapsulation in atomically precise cavitiesa formidable challenge for other delivery platforms. , Furthermore, host–guest complexation offers a useful strategy for ameliorating the issues of antagonism, instability, and pharmacokinetic differences among multiple drugs, which overcomes the limitations of conventional covalent modification of drugs.…”

Interface Assembly of Polymer Networks on Metal–Organic Frameworks for the Engineering of Functional Nanoparticles

“…1−5 Templating method has proved to be a versatile approach to fabricate polymer NPs, where the NP properties can be well tailored by the inherent template morphologies, various compositions, and polymer cross-linking strategies. 6,7 Layerby-layer assembly allows for the fabrication of functional polymer NPs and capsules, while multiple coating steps are typically required. 8−10 Although mesoporous templating method can circumvent the multiple polymer coating steps, it is limited to the specific polymers or strong acidic solution for the template removal.…”

“…Functional polymer nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable physicochemical properties (e.g., surface chemistry, size, stiffness and degradability) are of interest for a range of biomedical applications including drug and vaccine delivery. − Templating method has proved to be a versatile approach to fabricate polymer NPs, where the NP properties can be well tailored by the inherent template morphologies, various compositions, and polymer cross-linking strategies. , Layer-by-layer assembly allows for the fabrication of functional polymer NPs and capsules, while multiple coating steps are typically required. − Although mesoporous templating method can circumvent the multiple polymer coating steps, it is limited to the specific polymers or strong acidic solution for the template removal. , Surface-initiated polymerization or one-step surface coating strategies can simplify the formation of polymer networks, while surface modification of initiators on the templates is essential or organic solvent is usually used to dissolve monomers or templates. − Therefore, the approach involving facile formation of polymer networks, mild template removal conditions, versatility for polymer choices, and control over NP properties is highly desired for the assembly of polymer NPs.…”

Modular Metal‐Quinone Networks with Tunable Architecture and Functionality

“…The controlled synthesis of tunable nanomaterials requires the spatial and temporal confinement of components capable of demonstrating diverse interactions with their surrounding environments; this has significant implications for interfacial assembly, [1][2][3] as well as practical applications in lithography, [4][5][6] separations, [7] self-cleaning, [8,9] cell adhesion, [10,11] and drug delivery. [12][13][14][15] The supramolecular metal-organic toolbox is a promising platform to construct functional materials with tunable properties owing to the rich choice of building blocks and the hybrid physicochemical properties and interactions imparted by the organic and metal components. [16][17][18][19][20][21] However, the spatial confinement and positioning of specific metal-organic components can be challenging but can be achieved using components that exhibit universal adherence to themselves and to other substrates.…”