ISAV-NP RNA binding.

<p>(A–C) RNA binding affinity measurements for the <i>wt</i> NP (A), ΔN111 (B) and ΔC16 (C). FA was performed using three RNA oligos each containing 20, 24, and 28 nts. The binding curves are plotted using the same protein concentration range. For the ΔC16 mutant, an inset is added in (C) to provide a more spread-out view at lower protein concentrations. Fully saturated curves for the 20-nt RNA are shown in <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1003624#ppat.1003624.s003" target="_blank">Fig. S3</a> in Supporting Information. (D–G) RNA binding stoichiometry measurements for the <i>wt</i> NP and the ΔLOOP monomeric mutant. NP:RNA complexes assembled in each experiments are schematically shown with blue handcuffs for NP dimers and grey curves for RNA molecules.</p

Gel filtration chromatograms for ISAV-NP proteins.

<p>The eluted positions of three protein standards are marked by arrows.</p

ISAV-NP:RNA complexes.

<p>(A–F) EM images of the free NP (A, B), NP bound to a 24-nt RNA (C, D), and NP bound to a 48-nt RNA (E, F). (G) Molecular weights of NP and NP:RNA complexes as determined by DLS. Molecular interpretations were made for each figure with blue handcuffs for the NP dimers and grey curves for RNA molecules.</p

Increased Heating Efficiency and Selective Thermal Ablation of Malignant Tissue with DNA-Encased Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Nanoparticles, including multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), strongly absorb near-infrared (nIR) radiation and efficiently convert absorbed energy to released heat which can be used for localized hyperthermia applications. We demonstrate for the first time that DNA-encasement increases heat emission following nIR irradiation of MWNTs, and DNA-encased MWNTs can be used to safely eradicate a tumor mass <i>in vivo</i>. Upon irradiation of DNA-encased MWNTs, heat is generated with a linear dependence on irradiation time and laser power. DNA-encasement resulted in a 3-fold reduction in the concentration of MWNTs required to impart a 10 °C temperature increase in bulk solution temperature. A single treatment consisting of intratumoral injection of MWNTs (100 μL of a 500 μg/mL solution) followed by laser irradiation at 1064 nm, 2.5 W/cm² completely eradicated PC3 xenograft tumors in 8/8 (100%) of nude mice. Tumors that received only MWNT injection or laser irradiation showed growth rates indistinguishable from nontreated control tumors. Nonmalignant tissues displayed no long-term damage from treatment. The results demonstrate that DNA-encased MWNTs are more efficient at converting nIR irradiation into heat compared to nonencased MWNTs and that DNA-encased MWNTs can be used safely and effectively for the selective thermal ablation of malignant tissue <i>in vivo</i>