Negrón Luis M, Vázquez-Rosa Edwin, Belfleur Luxene, Díaz Tanya L, Madera-Soto Bismark, Vega Irving E, Rivera José M
Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, Cayey 00736, PR.
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, San Juan 00931, PR.
ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Jul 21;8(7):5625-5633. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.5c00201. Epub 2025 Jun 10.
Supramolecular hacky sacks (SHS) are a distinct class of self-assembled colloidal particles derived from guanosine (G) derivatives, engineered to support a wide range of cellular and therapeutic functions. In this study, we examine how variations in G-derivative composition influence SHS cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and functional efficacy. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry reveal that uptake is highly dependent on particle composition, indicating selective engagement with specific cellular mechanisms. We show that SHS particles are biocompatible carriers capable of delivering both small molecules and genetic material: they successfully encapsulate and release doxorubicin with enhanced cytotoxic effects, and enable plasmid transfection with sustained expression of fluorescent proteins. These findings position SHS particles as a highly adaptable and effective supramolecular platform for drug and gene delivery. Their intrinsic biodegradability, ease of preparation, and tunable bioactivity highlight their strong potential for advancing biomedical applications.
超分子沙包（SHS）是一类独特的自组装胶体颗粒，由鸟苷（G）衍生物衍生而来，经过设计可支持多种细胞和治疗功能。在本研究中，我们研究了G衍生物组成的变化如何影响SHS的细胞摄取、细胞内运输和功能功效。共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞术显示，摄取高度依赖于颗粒组成，表明与特定细胞机制的选择性相互作用。我们表明，SHS颗粒是能够递送小分子和遗传物质的生物相容性载体：它们成功地封装并释放阿霉素，具有增强的细胞毒性作用，并能实现质粒转染，使荧光蛋白持续表达。这些发现将SHS颗粒定位为用于药物和基因递送的高度适应性和有效的超分子平台。它们固有的生物可降解性、易于制备和可调节的生物活性突出了它们在推进生物医学应用方面的强大潜力。
