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. 2011 Mar;39(4):1638-44.
doi: 10.1093/nar/gkq893. Epub 2010 Oct 21.

Stimuli-responsive controlled-release system using quadruplex DNA-capped silica nanocontainers

Cuie Chen  1 , Fang Pu, Zhenzhen Huang, Zhen Liu, Jinsong Ren, Xiaogang Qu
Affiliations

Stimuli-responsive controlled-release system using quadruplex DNA-capped silica nanocontainers

Cuie Chen et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Mar.

Abstract

A novel proton-fueled molecular gate-like delivery system has been constructed for controlled cargo release using i-motif quadruplex DNA as caps onto pore outlets of mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Start from simple conformation changes, the i-motif DNA cap can open and close the pore system in smart response to pH stimulus. Importantly, the opening/closing and delivery protocol is highly reversible and a partial cargo delivery can be easily controlled at will. A pH-switchable nanoreactor has also been developed to validate the potential of our system for on-demand molecular transport. This proof of concept might open the door to a new generation of carrier materials and could also provide a general route to use other functional nucleic acids/peptide nucleic acids as capping agents in the fields of versatile controlled delivery nanodevices.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Schematic representation of proton-fueled release of guest molecules from the pores of MSN capped with i-motif DNA.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(A) Nitrogen sorption isotherms of the samples (a) MSN-NH2, (b) MSN-DNA and (c) MSN-RhB. (B) FTIR spectra of the samples (a) MSN-NH2, (b) MSN-COOH and (c) MSN-DNA.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Solid state 13C CP-MAS NMR spectra of (a) MSN-NH2, (b) MSN-COOH and (c) MSN-DNA.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
(A) Release profiles of rhodamine B dye from MSN-RhB at pH 5.0 and 8.0. (B) Partial guest release profile of rhodamine B dye from MSN-RhB as function of pH variations.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
(A) Illustration of the pH-switchable nanoreactor. (B) Fluorescence response of the nanoreactor activity in acidic and neutral environment: (a) MSN-DNA, (b) MSN-CPM before the addition of thiol, (c–g) MSN-CPM after the reaction of thiol from pH 5.0 to 7.0 with increments of 0.5 pH units. (C) Fluorescence images of the nanoreactors in the absence and presence of thiol. Only weak fluorescence could be observed with the addition of thiol at pH 5.0, whereas the container showed strong blue fluorescence at pH 8.0.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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