Open AccessControlled Organization of Inorganic Materials Using Biological Molecules for Activating Therapeutic Functionalities
Author(s) -
Morgan Chandler,
Brian Minevich,
Brandon K. Roark,
Mathias Viard,
M. Brittany Johnson,
Mehedi H. Rizvi,
Thomas A Deaton,
Seraphim Kozlov,
Martin Panigaj,
Joseph B. Tracy,
Yaroslava G. Yingling,
Oleg Gang,
Kirill A. Afonin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs applied materials and interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.535
H-Index - 228
eISSN - 1944-8252
pISSN - 1944-8244
DOI - 10.1021/acsami.1c09230
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , quantum dot , nucleic acid , gene silencing , nanostructure , nanoparticle , self assembly , biophysics , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , gene
Precise control over the assembly of biocompatible three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures would allow for programmed interactions within the cellular environment. Nucleic acids can be used as programmable crosslinkers to direct the assembly of quantum dots (QDs) and tuned to demonstrate different interparticle binding strategies. Morphologies of self-assembled QDs are evaluated via gel electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and dissipative particle dynamics simulations, with all results being in good agreement. The controlled assembly of 3D QD organizations is demonstrated in cells via the colocalized emission of multiple assembled QDs, and their immunorecognition is assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RNA interference inducers are also embedded into the interparticle binding strategy to be released in human cells only upon QD assembly, which is demonstrated by specific gene silencing. The programmability and intracellular activity of QD assemblies offer a strategy for nucleic acids to imbue the structure and therapeutic function into the formation of complex networks of nanostructures, while the photoluminescent properties of the material allow for optical tracking in cells in vitro.