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Published on: August 30, 2017
Orthogonal light-triggered multiple effects based on photochromic nanoparticles for DNA cleavage and beyond
Lizhi Jiao1, Qisi Li1, Chenming Li1
1Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Surface & Interface Science of Polymer Materials of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China. zjzhang@zstu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Efficient and spatiotemporally controllable cleavage of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is of great significance for both disease treatment (e.g. tumour, bacterial infection, etc) and molecular biology applications (e.g. gene editing). The recently developed light-induced cleavage strategy based on catalytic nanoparticles has been regarded as a promising strategy for DNA controllable cleavage. Although the regulation based on orthogonal light in biomedical applications holds more significant advantages than that based on single light, nanoparticle-mediated DNA cleavage based on orthogonal light has yet to be reported. In this article, for the first time, we demonstrated an orthogonal light-regulated nanosystem for efficient and spatiotemporal DNA cleavage. In this strategy, tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles with photochromic properties were used as nano-antennae to convert the photoenergy from the orthogonal visible light (405 nm) and near-infrared light (808 nm) into chemical energy for DNA cleavage. We verified that only the orthogonal light can trigger high cleavage efficiency on different types of DNA. Moreover, such an orthogonal light-response nano-system can not only induce significant apoptosis of tumour cells, but also effectively eliminate bacterial biofilms.
Insights
Researchers developed a novel nanosystem using tungsten oxide nanoparticles for precise, light-controlled DNA cleavage. This breakthrough enables targeted cancer cell apoptosis and effective bacterial biofilm elimination using orthogonal light.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Efficient and spatiotemporally controllable deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) cleavage is crucial for disease treatment and molecular biology.
- Light-induced cleavage strategies using catalytic nanoparticles offer promising control over DNA cleavage.
- Orthogonal light regulation presents advantages over single light but remains underexplored for nanoparticle-mediated DNA cleavage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate the first orthogonal light-regulated nanosystem for efficient and spatiotemporal DNA cleavage.
- To utilize tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles as nano-antennae for converting orthogonal light energy into chemical energy for DNA cleavage.
- To evaluate the nanosystem's efficacy in triggering DNA cleavage, inducing tumor cell apoptosis, and eliminating bacterial biofilms.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a nanosystem incorporating photochromic tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles.
- Application of orthogonal visible light (405 nm) and near-infrared light (808 nm) to activate the nanosystem.
- Assessment of DNA cleavage efficiency across different DNA types under orthogonal light stimulation.
- In vitro evaluation of the nanosystem's effect on tumor cell apoptosis and bacterial biofilm elimination.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated efficient and spatiotemporal DNA cleavage triggered exclusively by orthogonal light (405 nm and 808 nm).
- Verified high cleavage efficiency on various DNA substrates.
- Observed significant induction of tumor cell apoptosis.
- Confirmed effective elimination of bacterial biofilms.
Conclusions:
- The developed orthogonal light-response nanosystem provides unprecedented control over DNA cleavage.
- This technology holds significant potential for advanced therapeutic strategies, including cancer treatment and combating bacterial infections.
- The study establishes a new paradigm for nanoparticle-mediated orthogonal light-controlled biomedical applications.
