Citation: Mengyue Li, Yue Zheng, Zhijun Lu, Yu Yang, Jiangping Lei, Yi Teng, Wanyi Zhou, Yiman Ge, Chunhui Wu, Hong Yang, Yiyao Liu. Aptamer-targeted and pH-responsive DNA tetrahedron for survivin mRNA fluorescence imaging and chemo/gene therapy[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 111541. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111541 shu

Aptamer-targeted and pH-responsive DNA tetrahedron for survivin mRNA fluorescence imaging and chemo/gene therapy

Mengyue Li ^{a, b} ,
Yue Zheng ^a ,
Zhijun Lu ^a ,
Yu Yang ^a ,
Jiangping Lei ^a ,
Yi Teng ^a ,
Wanyi Zhou ^a ,
Yiman Ge ^c ,
Chunhui Wu ^a ,
Hong Yang ^{a, *,} ,
Yiyao Liu ^{a, c, d, e, *,}

a.
Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, and School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
b.
Institute for Engineering Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
c.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
d.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, China
e.
Department of Urology, Deyang People's Hospital, Deyang 618099, China

yanghongyh@uestc.edu.cn

liuyiyao@uestc.edu.cn

Received Date: 10 April 2025
Revised Date: 30 June 2025
Accepted Date: 2 July 2025
Available Online: 6 July 2025

Figures(5)

In situ stimuli-responsive nanodevices have gained substantial attention in recent years owing to their remarkable potential to enhance tumor imaging and therapeutic effects. Herein, we formulated a pH-responsive, aptamer-functionalized DNA tetrahedral nanoplatform (ASTD) for improved visualization of survivin mRNA and chemo/gene therapy. ASTD, assembled by four single-stranded DNA, integrates pH-responsive i-motif sequences, survivin mRNA-targeted molecular beacons and AS1411 aptamers. Taking advantage of the tumor-targeting ability of AS1411 aptamer, ASTD monomers self-assemble into a multifunctional DNA polymeric tetrahedron (ASPD) on the tumor cell surface upon exposure to acidic tumor microenvironment. ASPD exhibits enhanced cellular uptake, superior survivin mRNA imaging, and efficient survivin gene silencing. Furthermore, Dox-loaded ASPD shows a significant antitumor effect, resulting in approximately 66% apoptosis of tumor cells. This study develops a dynamic DNA tetrahedral nanoplatform with diagnostic and therapeutic dual-functionalities, offering a promising strategy for advancing precise cancer theranostics.
- Dynamic DNA nanostructures,
- DNA tetrahedrons,
- Survivin mRNA imaging,
- Chemo/gene therapy,
- Targeted delivery
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