Zheng Aixian, Zhang Xiaolong, Huang Yanbing, Cai Zhixiong, Liu Xiaolong, Liu Jingfeng
The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025 P. R. China
The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025 P. R. China.
RSC Adv. 2018 Feb 12;8(13):6781-6788. doi: 10.1039/c8ra00261d. eCollection 2018 Feb 9.
MicroRNAs play an important role in various biological processes, and their aberrant expression is closely associated with various human diseases, especially cancer. Real-time monitoring of microRNAs in living cells may help us to understand their role in cellular processes, which can further provide a basis for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, polydopamine was used to assist the versatile modification of a nucleic acid probe for intracellular microRNA imaging and enhanced photothermal therapy. Polydopamine can be covalently linked with a thiol-terminated nucleic acid probe through the Michael addition reaction under slightly alkaline conditions. This modification is mild and can be performed directly in an aqueous solution, which can better resist hydrolysis than the traditional modification processes, resulting in a nanoprobe with better stability and higher loading of nucleic acids. This prepared nanoprobe can easily enter cells without transfection agents and then realize the imaging of intracellular miRNA through fluorescence restoration. Moreover, the coating of PDA can enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency of the nanoprobe, making it suitable for photothermal therapy of cancer. It is expected that the PDA-based versatile modification can help to construct a promising platform for tumor imaging and treatment.
微小RNA在各种生物过程中发挥着重要作用，其异常表达与多种人类疾病尤其是癌症密切相关。对活细胞中的微小RNA进行实时监测可能有助于我们了解它们在细胞过程中的作用，这可为诊断和治疗提供进一步的依据。在本研究中，聚多巴胺用于辅助核酸探针的多功能修饰，以实现细胞内微小RNA成像及增强光热治疗。聚多巴胺可在弱碱性条件下通过迈克尔加成反应与巯基化核酸探针共价连接。这种修饰较为温和，可直接在水溶液中进行，比传统修饰过程更能抵抗水解，从而得到具有更好稳定性和更高核酸负载量的纳米探针。这种制备的纳米探针无需转染试剂就能轻松进入细胞，然后通过荧光恢复实现细胞内miRNA成像。此外，聚多巴胺涂层可提高纳米探针的光热转换效率，使其适用于癌症的光热治疗。预计基于聚多巴胺的多功能修饰有助于构建一个有前景的肿瘤成像与治疗平台。
