8 research outputs found
A DNA-Based Nanocarrier for Efficient Gene Delivery and Combined Cancer Therapy
The efficient delivery of a therapeutic
gene into target tissues
has remained a major obstacle in realizing a viable gene-based medicine.
Herein, we introduce a facile and universal strategy to construct
a DNA nanostructure-based codelivery system containing a linear tumor
therapeutic gene (p53) and a chemotherapeutic drug (doxorubicin, DOX)
for combined therapy of multidrug resistant tumor (MCF-7R). This novel
codelivery system, which is structurally similar to a kite, is rationally
designed to contain multiple functional groups for the targeted delivery
and controlled release of the therapeutic cargoes. The self-assembled
DNA nanokite achieves efficient gene delivery and exhibits effective
inhibition of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo without apparent systemic
toxicity. These structurally and chemically well-defined codelivery
nanovectors provide a new platform for the development of gene therapeutics
for not only cancer but also a wide range of diseases
Genetically Encoded DNA Origami for Gene Therapy In Vivo
DNA origami has played an important
role in various biomedical
applications, including biosensing, bioimaging, and drug delivery.
However, the function of the long DNA scaffold involved in DNA origami
has yet to be fully exploited. Herein, we report a general strategy
for the construction of a genetically encoded DNA origami by employing
two complementary DNA strands of a functional gene as the DNA scaffold
for gene therapy. In our design, the complementary sense and antisense
strands can be directly folded into two DNA origami monomers by their
corresponding staple strands. After hybridization, the assembled genetically
encoded DNA origami with precisely organized lipids on the surface
can function as the template for lipid growth. The lipid-coated and
genetically encoded DNA origami can efficiently penetrate the cell
membrane for successful gene expression. After decoration with the
tumor-targeting group, the antitumor gene (p53) encoded DNA origami
can elicit a pronounced upregulation of the p53 protein in tumor cells
to achieve efficient tumor therapy. The targeting group-modified,
lipid-coated, and genetically encoded DNA origami has mimicked the
functions of cell surface ligands, cell membrane, and nucleus for
communication, protection, and gene expression, respectively. This
rationally developed combination of folding and coating strategies
for genetically encoded DNA origami presents a new avenue for the
development of gene therapy
Comparison of three data mining models for prediction of advanced schistosomiasis prognosis in the Hubei province
<div><p>Background</p><p>In order to better assist medical professionals, this study aimed to develop and compare the performance of three models—a multivariate logistic regression (LR) model, an artificial neural network (ANN) model, and a decision tree (DT) model—to predict the prognosis of patients with advanced schistosomiasis residing in the Hubei province.</p><p>Methodology/Principal findings</p><p>Schistosomiasis surveillance data were collected from a previous study based on a Hubei population sample including 4136 advanced schistosomiasis cases. The predictive models use LR, ANN, and DT methods. From each of the three groups, 70% of the cases (2896 cases) were used as training data for the predictive models. The remaining 30% of the cases (1240 cases) were used as validation groups for performance comparisons between the three models. Prediction performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Univariate analysis indicated that 16 risk factors were significantly associated with a patient’s outcome of prognosis. In the training group, the mean AUC was 0.8276 for LR, 0.9267 for ANN, and 0.8229 for DT. In the validation group, the mean AUC was 0.8349 for LR, 0.8318 for ANN, and 0.8148 for DT. The three models yielded similar results in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>Predictive models for advanced schistosomiasis prognosis, respectively using LR, ANN and DT models were proved to be effective approaches based on our dataset. The ANN model outperformed the LR and DT models in terms of AUC.</p></div
Self-Assembled Double-Bundle DNA Tetrahedron for Efficient Antisense Delivery
DNA nanostructures
are promising biomaterials capable of arranging multiple functional
components with nanometer precision. Here, a double-bundle DNA tetrahedron
is rationally designed to integrate with antisense oligonucleotides
silencing proto-oncogene <i>c-raf</i> and nuclear targeting
peptides. The functionalized DNA tetrahedron can be internalized by
A549 cells and assists the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides
toward the nucleus to increase the chance to downregulate target mRNA
in nucleus and cytoplasm. Antisense strands released from the tetrahedron
in response to the intracellular reducing environment can inhibit
cell proliferation at a low concentration without transfection reagent.
Finally, efficient knockdown of <i>c-raf</i> gene is observed,
which verified our design. This designer DNA-based nanocarrier system
will open a new avenue for efficient delivery of nucleic acid drugs
The establishment of the DT model for the prognosis of patients with advanced schistosomiasis (C4.5 algorithm).
<p>The establishment of the DT model for the prognosis of patients with advanced schistosomiasis (C4.5 algorithm).</p
ROC curves and AUC values for the advanced schistosomiasis prognosis models constructed with the validation groups using the ANN, DT, and LR models.
<p>The AUC value for the prognosis of patients with advanced schistosomiasis was 0.832 for the ANN model, 0.835 for the LR model, and 0.815 for the DT model. The AUC values of the ANN, DT, and LR models were approximate.</p
ROC curves and AUC values for the advanced schistosomiasis prognosis models constructed with the training groups using the ANN, DT, and LR models.
<p>The AUC value for the prognosis of patients with advanced schistosomiasis was 0.927 for the ANN model, 0.828 for the LR model, and 0.823 for the DT model. The AUC value of the ANN model was superior to those of the DT and LR models.</p
Stimulus-Responsive Plasmonic Chiral Signals of Gold Nanorods Organized on DNA Origami
In
response to environmental variations, living cells need to arrange
the conformational changes of macromolecules to achieve the specific
biofunctions. Inspired by natural molecular machines, artificial macromolecular
assemblies with controllable nanostructures and environmentally responsive
functions can be designed. By assembling macromolecular nanostructures
with noble metal nanoparticles, environmental information could be
significantly amplified and modulated. However, manufacturing dynamic
plasmonic nanostructures that are efficiently responsive to different
stimuli is still a challenging task. Here we demonstrate a stimulus-responsive
plasmonic nanosystem based on DNA origami-organized gold nanorods
(GNRs). L-shaped GNR dimers were assembled on rhombus-shaped DNA origami
templates. The geometry and chiral signals of the GNR nanoarchitectures
respond to multiple stimuli, including glutathione reduction, restriction
enzyme action, pH change, or photoirradiation. While the glutathione
reduction or restriction enzyme caused irreversible changes in the
plasmonic circular dichroism (CD) signals, both pH and light irradiation
triggered reversible changes in the plasmonic CD. Our system transduces
external stimuli into conformational changes and circular dichroism
responses in near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. By this approach, programmable
optical reporters for essential biological signals can be fabricated