Aptamer-Functionalized DNA Tetrahedra Loading GOx/HRP Cascade System for Targeted Therapy of Infected Wounds

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Skin integrity is crucial for health but vulnerable to damage, leading to wounds.
• Bacterial infections in wounds are a major clinical challenge, exacerbated by antibiotic resistance.
• Existing antibacterial agents can have biocompatibility issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an intelligent, targeted antibacterial system using endogenous biocomponents.
• To overcome limitations of current antibiotic therapies and improve wound management.

Main Methods:

• Engineered DNA tetrahedra (Th) with integrated bacteria-specific aptamers (Th^A).
• Colocalized glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) within the DNA tetrahedra nanocavity.
• Utilized spatial confinement to enhance enzyme cascade efficiency for antibacterial action.

Main Results:

• The Th^A-GH system specifically targets and binds to bacterial surfaces.
• It depletes bacterial glucose and generates hydroxyl radicals (·OH) to disrupt bacterial membranes.
• Demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity and accelerated in vivo infected wound healing.

Conclusions:

• DNA nanotechnology offers precise enzyme regulation for targeted antibacterial strategies.
• Th^A-GH presents a high-efficiency, biocompatible, non-antibiotic approach for clinical wound management.
• This system holds significant potential for addressing antibiotic resistance in wound care.