A Molecular Recognition Approach To Synthesize Nucleoside Analogue Based Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Tumor-targeted drug delivery with simultaneous cancer imaging is highly desirable for personalized medicine. Herein, we report a supramolecular approach to design a promising class of multifunctional nanoparticles based on molecular recognition of nucleobases, which combine excellent tumor-targeting capability via aptamer, controlled drug release, and efficient fluorescent imaging for cancer-specific therapy. First, an amphiphilic prodrug dioleoyl clofarabine was self-assembled into micellar nanoparticles with hydrophilic nucleoside analogue clofarabine on their surface. Thereafter, two types of single-stranded DNAs that contain the aptamer motif and fluorescent probe Cy5.5, respectively, were introduced onto the surface of the nanoparticles via molecular recognition between the clofarabine and the thymine on DNA. These drug-containing multifunctional nanoparticles exhibit good capabilities of targeted clofarabine delivery to the tumor site and intracellular controlled drug release, leading to a robust and effective antitumor effect in vivo.