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Covalent Organic Framework-Based Spherical Nucleic Acid Probe with a Bonding Defect-Amplified Modification Strategy
Peng Gao1, Kun Tang1, Ruxin Lou1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Institute of Molecular and Nano Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, P. R. China.
Researchers developed a new method to create functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for spherical nucleic acid probes (SNAPs). This advance enables precise RNA biomarker detection in living cells for cancer diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Bioanalytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are promising for nanomedicine and bioanalysis.
- Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer unique properties but functionalization methods are limited.
- Creating COF-based SNAs is challenging due to difficulties in COF modification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a facile strategy for preparing functionalized COFs.
- To create COF-based spherical nucleic acid probes (SNAPs).
- To demonstrate the utility of COF-SNAPs for in-cell biomarker detection.
Main Methods:
- A bonding defect-amplified modification (BDAM) strategy was employed.
- Poly(acrylic acid) amplified surface defects on COF nanoparticles, creating carboxyl groups.
- Amino-terminal hairpin DNA was grafted onto COF nanoparticles to form SNAPs.
Main Results:
- The BDAM strategy successfully produced functionalized COF nanoparticles.
- COF-based SNAPs were successfully synthesized and characterized.
- COF-SNAPs demonstrated specific RNA biomarker detection in living cells for cancer imaging.
Conclusions:
- The developed COF-based SNAP is a promising tool for biomedical applications.
- The BDAM strategy offers a versatile method for functionalizing COFs.
- This work advances the development of nanomedicine and bioanalytical tools.
