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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures
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Ohmic Contact Fabrication Using a Focused-ion Beam Technique and Electrical Characterization for Layer Semiconductor Nanostructures

Published on: December 5, 2015

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Programmable Metal/Semiconductor Nanostructures for mRNA-Modulated Molecular Delivery

Libing Zhang1, Sae Rin Jean2, Xiyan Li3

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario M5S 3M2 , Canada.

Nano Letters
|September 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

New programmable nanostructures deliver chemotherapy drugs and sense mRNA in drug-resistant cancer cells. This approach improves therapeutic efficacy by releasing doxorubicin and downregulating the MRP1 resistance factor.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer limits the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
  • Novel strategies are required to overcome MDR and enhance drug delivery.
  • Programmable nanostructures offer potential solutions for targeted cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate programmable metal/semiconductor nanostructures for drug delivery and mRNA sensing in drug-resistant cancer cells.
  • To investigate the ability of these nanostructures to target and downregulate drug resistance mechanisms.
  • To assess the therapeutic efficacy of this novel system against resistant tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of core-satellite nanostructures using gold nanoparticles and DNA-capped quantum dots.
  • Incorporation of doxorubicin for drug delivery and specific mRNA-binding DNA sequences.
  • In vitro testing on drug-resistant cancer cells to evaluate drug release, mRNA sensing, fluorescence response, and MRP1 downregulation.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated successful construction of programmable core-satellite nanostructures with tunable properties.
  • Showcased targeted release of doxorubicin triggered by binding to MRP1 mRNA.
  • Observed a turn-on fluorescence signal and significant downregulation of the MRP1 drug efflux pump.
  • Achieved remarkable improvement in therapeutic efficacy against doxorubicin-resistant cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • Programmable metal/semiconductor nanostructures represent a versatile platform for overcoming multidrug resistance.
  • This system integrates drug delivery, mRNA sensing, and therapeutic response into a single nanostructure.
  • The developed technology holds promise for advancing personalized cancer treatment strategies.
Keywords:
DNASelf-assemblymRNAmultidrug resistancequantum dots

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