Nanoparticle-conjugated aptamer targeting hnRNP A2/B1 can recognize multiple tumor cells and inhibit their...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Aptamers are nucleic acid-based ligands with high specificity for target molecules.
• Targeting specific proteins within tumor cells is crucial for effective cancer diagnosis and therapy.
• Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) is implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a previously developed aptamer, C6-8, for its targeting capabilities.
• To determine the specific binding target of the C6-8 aptamer.
• To evaluate the potential of C6-8 aptamer-conjugated carbon nanodots (CDots) for cancer cell labeling, growth inhibition, and therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of C6-8 aptamer binding specificity using ROS 17/2.8 cells.
• Assessment of C6-8 aptamer labeling efficacy across multiple tumor cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, H1299, HeLa).
• Evaluation of C6-8-conjugated CDots for cellular uptake, tumor cell growth inhibition, and in vivo efficacy in nude mice models.

Main Results:

• The C6-8 aptamer specifically binds to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1).
• C6-8 aptamer effectively labeled multiple tumor cell lines, comparable to hnRNP A2/B1 monoclonal antibodies.
• C6-8-conjugated CDots demonstrated efficient cellular entry, inhibited tumor cell growth, and showed therapeutic effects in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The C6-8 aptamer is a novel tool for targeting and labeling diverse tumor cell types via hnRNP A2/B1.
• Conjugation with carbon nanodots enhances the aptamer's utility for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
• This aptamer-nanoparticle conjugate system holds significant potential for advancing cancer treatment strategies.