Self-Assembled DNA Immunonanoflowers as Multivalent CpG Nanoagents
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Updated: Apr 1, 2026
Combining QD-FRET and Microfluidics to Monitor DNA Nanocomplex Self-Assembly in Real-Time
Published on: August 26, 2009
Liqin Zhang1, Guizhi Zhu1,2, Lei Mei2
1Departments of Chemistry, Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, UF Health Cancer Center, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States.
Abstract:
Synthetic unmethylated cytosine-guanine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides are immunostimulatory motifs that have shown promise as vaccines or adjuvants for diseases such as cancers and infectious diseases. In the present work, novel immuno-nanoflowers (NFs), self-assembled from long DNA integrated with tandem CpG through rolling circle replication, were developed for efficient CpG delivery and protection from nuclease degradation. In a model of macrophage-like cells, the CpG NFs proved to be potent immunostimulators by triggering the proliferation of these immune cells, which, in turn, secreted immunostimulatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. These results demonstrate the ability of CpG NFs to induce cancer cell apoptosis and necrosis.
