Nature Subsidiary: DNA Nano Robots Target Cancer
Release date: 2018-02-22
What is DNA origami? Unlike traditional origami-selected materials, DNA origami technology uses DNA strands for folding. DNA origami is a new method of DNA self-assembly proposed in recent years, and is a major advance in the field of DNA nanotechnology and DNA self-assembly.
Previous studies have shown that it is feasible to use a biocompatible, degradable, DNA-based biorobot to treat cancer. Hao Yan, co-author of the study and Arizona State University, said that the original intention of the research team was to "find the design method of nano-robots that can be applied to human cancer treatment."
Yan and colleagues first made a self-assembled rectangular DNA origami and combined it with thrombin. Then, DNA fasteners are used to connect the long sides of the rectangle to form a tubular nano-robot with thrombin inside. They designed a way to bind nuclear proteins, a protein specific to the surface of tumor blood vessels. These nano-robots can be programmed to transport molecular loads and cause blockages in the tumor's blood supply, leading to tissue death and tumor shrinkage.
Arizona State University scientists program DNA (shown in green) to look for tumor cells. Inside these nanobots, scientists implanted thrombin (purple) to stop blood flow to the tumor.
Once the blood vessels (shown as red tubes) are "fed" to the tumor, the nanorobot opens (looks flat and gray) to release thrombin (purple), which stimulates platelets and clotting agents (red and yellow) to block blood vessels ( The end of the blood vessel shows a blood clot) and cuts off the supply of the tumor.
Next, to test DNA nanobots, the researchers injected them into mouse models infected with human breast, ovarian, melanoma, and lung cancer. These robots grasp the vascular cells at the tumor site and cause a large amount of blood clotting in the tumor blood vessels within 48 hours without causing blood clotting in other parts of the body. Results Compared to control mice, DNA nanobots prolonged the lifespan of mice and slowed or reversed tumor growth. In addition, in the mouse model of melanoma, DNA nano-robots seem to be able to prevent the spread of melanoma to the liver; in the mouse model of lung cancer, when the tumor growth slows down, the lungs even show the ability to begin self-repair.
“We developed the first fully autonomous DNA robotic system for very precise drug design and targeted cancer therapy,†said Dr. Yan. “Thrombin-delivered DNA nano-robots are an important part of DNA nanotechnology in cancer therapy. progress."
Of course, if the nano-robot itself poses a threat to humans, its ability to treat tumors cannot be discussed. The researchers found that these robots did not condense blood outside the tumor and did not trigger any significant immune response in mice or pigs.
Mauro Ferrari, a biomedical engineer at the Houston Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical School, commented, “From mouse models to humans is a huge project. It is unclear whether targeting nuclear proteins and delivering thrombin is clinically significant. But the breakthrough is that this is a platform, and researchers can do other research in a similar way, which is far-reaching."
Although these DNA nanobots are still in the experimental stage and have not been tested in humans, they have shown great potential for treating cancer. "Our research shows that DNA-based nanocarriers have proven to be an effective and safe method of cancer treatment," said Guangjun Nie, one of the project's researchers. "We are currently working with a biotechnology company to bring this A revolutionary technology is transformed into a viable anti-tumor treatment."
Reference material
Researchers use nanorobots to kill tumors in mice
Cancer-Fighting Nanorobots Programmed To Shrink Tumors
DNA Robots Target Cancer
Source: Bio-Exploration
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