Stimuli-Responsive DNA Nanostructures for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Besides being a carrier of genetic information, nucleic acid as a category of biomacromolecules can function well as the building block for the assembly of versatile nanostructures through classic Watson-Crick complementary base pairing. Nucleic acid nanostructures have been widely employed in the construction of multifunctional nano-biomaterials with uniform sizes and shapes. Owing to its structural programmability, spatial addressability, and excellent biocompatibility, stimuli-responsive nucleic acid nanostructures have been extensively developed for various biomedical applications, such as bio-imaging and drug delivery. In this chapter, the recent progress in the design of stimuli-responsive nucleic acid nanostructures for bio-imaging (including fluorescent imaging, photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission computed tomography/computed tomography) and drug delivery (including delivery of small molecule, functional nucleic acid, functional protein, and multiple therapeutic components) in vitro and in vivo is reviewed. First, the construction strategies for different nucleic acid nanostructures are introduced. Then, the advances of bio-imaging and drug delivery based on stimuli-responsive nucleic acid nanostructure are summarized. Finally, some challenges and future perspectives of nucleic acid nanostructures in biomedical applications are also discussed.KeywordsNucleic acid nanostructureSelf-assemblyBio-imagingDrug deliveryGene therapyCancer therapy