Abstract
An analytical platform for the selective miRNA-21-guided imaging of breast cancer cells and miRNA-221-guided imaging of ovarian cancer cells and the selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) of these cancer cells is introduced. The method is based on Zn(II)-protoporphyrin IX, Zn(II)-PPIX-loaded UiO-66 metal–organic framework nanoparticles, NMOFs, gated by two hairpins Hi/Hj through ligation of their phosphate residues to the vacant Zr4+-ions associated with the NMOFs. The hairpins are engineered to include the miRNA recognition sequence in the stem domain of Hi, and in the Hi and Hj, partial locked stem regions of G-quadruplex subunits. Intracellular phosphate-ions displace the hairpins, resulting in the release of the Zn(II)-PPIX and intracellular miRNAs open Hi, and this triggers the autonomous cross-opening of Hi and Hj. This activates the interhairpin hybridization chain reaction and leads to the assembly of highly fluorescent Zn(II)-PPIX-loaded G-quadruplex chains. The miRNA-guided fluorescent chains allow selective imaging of cancer cells. Moreover, PDT with visible light selectively kills cancer cells and tumor cells through the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species.
Highlights
An analytical platform for the selective miRNA-21guided imaging of breast cancer cells and miRNA-221-guided imaging of ovarian cancer cells and the selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) of these cancer cells is introduced
At high intracellular phosphate concentration, or in the presence of phosphate buffer saline (PBS), ligand exchange of the phosphate units associated with the hairpin nucleic acids, Ha and Hb bound to the NMOFs, by the phosphate ions in solution proceeds
Ha and Hb are dissociated from NMOFs, leading to the release of the Zn(II)-PPIX which is accommodated in interpore domains of the NMOFs
Summary
An analytical platform for the selective miRNA-21guided imaging of breast cancer cells and miRNA-221-guided imaging of ovarian cancer cells and the selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) of these cancer cells is introduced. (ii) The miRNA-guided HCR-stimulated formation of Zn(II)-PPIX/G-quadruplex wires yields effective photosensitizers for light-induced generation of ROS that lead to effective and selective PDT of respective malignant cells.
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