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Bifunctional Graphene Oxide Drug Delivery System Based on miR-21 Response for Tumor Imaging and Therapy
Dutao Yang1, Sen Li1, Yanfei Cai1
1School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
Abstract:
Cancer, a category of diseases that pose a serious threat to human health, has received widespread attention in recent years. Although the small-molecule anticancer drug like Doxorubicin (Dox) has obvious therapeutic effects, it lacks targeting ability and is prone to causing cytotoxicity to normal cells or tissues, thus limiting its clinical application. In this study, a novel drug-loaded nanosystem, which was composed of graphene oxide (GO) modified by molecular beacon (MB) and Dox, was developed to respond to small-molecular RNA (miR-21) and release Dox for killing tumor cells. When the nanosystem was internalized by CD44 receptor-overexpressing cancer cells, the MBs on the GO hybridized with the overexpressed miR-21, thereby opening the hairpin structure and allowing the release of Dox in tumor cells. Our research results indicate that this nanosystem has a good inhibitory effect on cancer cells while exhibiting negligible side effects on normal cells. This treatment strategy provides a new approach to the safe delivery of small-molecule drugs.
Insights
This study introduces a novel graphene oxide (GO) nanosystem for targeted cancer therapy. The system releases Doxorubicin (Dox) specifically in tumor cells, minimizing side effects on healthy tissues.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Small-molecule anticancer drugs like Doxorubicin (Dox) show efficacy but lack tumor targeting, leading to systemic toxicity.
- Developing targeted drug delivery systems is crucial to enhance cancer treatment effectiveness and reduce side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel nanosystem for targeted delivery and controlled release of Doxorubicin (Dox) in cancer cells.
- To create a drug delivery system that responds to specific biomarkers, such as microRNA-21 (miR-21), for enhanced therapeutic specificity.
Main Methods:
- A drug-loaded nanosystem was engineered using graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with molecular beacons (MBs) and Doxorubicin (Dox).
- The nanosystem was designed to target cancer cells overexpressing the CD44 receptor.
- Molecular beacons (MBs) were incorporated to hybridize with miR-21, triggering Dox release upon internalization by cancer cells.
Main Results:
- The developed nanosystem demonstrated effective inhibition of cancer cell growth.
- Targeted delivery and triggered release of Doxorubicin (Dox) resulted in negligible side effects on normal cells.
- The nanosystem showed efficient internalization by CD44 receptor-overexpressing cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- This novel GO-based nanosystem offers a promising strategy for targeted cancer therapy.
- The miR-21-responsive drug release mechanism enhances therapeutic specificity and reduces off-target toxicity.
- This approach represents a significant advancement in the safe and effective delivery of small-molecule anticancer drugs.
