Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026

Uptake of New Lipid-coated Nanoparticles Containing Falcarindiol by Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Published on: February 9, 2019
Aptamer-mediated liver-targeted curcumin delivery system based on tetrahedral framework nucleic acids for NAFLD
Shaoyun Chen1, Yuchen Liu2, Siying Ma1
1School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Researchers developed a novel DNA nanostructure to improve curcumin
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties.
- Clinical use of curcumin is limited by poor bioavailability (solubility, stability).
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) requires improved therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an aptamer-mediated, liver-targeted delivery system for curcumin.
- To enhance curcumin's solubility, stability, and therapeutic efficacy for NAFLD.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of curcumin using tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs).
- Selection of liver-specific aptamers via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).
- Construction of an aptamer-tFNA complex for targeted drug delivery.
Main Results:
- The novel delivery system significantly improved curcumin's aqueous solubility and stability.
- Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of curcumin in a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model.
- Demonstrated successful liver-targeting of the curcumin-loaded nanostructure.
Conclusions:
- Aptamer-tFNA conjugates offer a promising platform for liver-targeted curcumin delivery.
- This approach enhances curcumin's bioavailability and efficacy for treating NAFLD.
- The platform has potential for delivering other therapeutic molecules to the liver.
More Related Videos
08:53Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery
Published on: April 16, 2019
11:34A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers