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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Visualizing Intracellular SNARE Trafficking by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Published on: December 29, 2017

Exploring the Subcellular Localization and Degradation of Spherical Nucleic Acids Using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

Steven Narum¹, Jiahui Zhang¹, Binh L N Vo²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.

|June 9, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are versatile nanostructures. This study uses fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to reveal SNA degradation within cells, clarifying their intracellular fate.

Keywords:

endocytosis endosomal entrapment fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)nanoparticles nucleic acids spherical nucleic acids

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Area of Science:

Nanotechnology
Molecular Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are promising for diagnostics and therapeutics.
Their intracellular trafficking and stability are poorly understood, with conflicting reports.
Previous studies often relied on indirect fluorescence measurements prone to artifacts.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the intracellular fate of SNAs using advanced microscopy.
To characterize the early stages of SNA degradation within cells.
To resolve conflicting literature claims regarding SNA stability and endosomal entrapment.

Main Methods:

Utilized fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) for enhanced SNA tracking.
Investigated monothiol and dithiol anchored gold nanoparticle-SNAs.
Examined phosphorothioate backbone-modified SNAs.
Employed model cell lines to study SNA degradation dynamics.

Main Results:

FLIM provided detailed insights into SNA intracellular trafficking.
Internalized SNAs lost up to 20% of their nucleic acids within 24 hours.
Degradation rates were influenced by DNase II activity and thiol-displacement.

Conclusions:

FLIM is a valuable tool for elucidating SNA intracellular fate.
SNAs undergo degradation within cells, challenging previous assumptions of stability.
Understanding SNA degradation is crucial for optimizing their therapeutic and diagnostic applications.