DNA-gold nanorod conjugates for remote control of localized gene expression by near infrared irradiation.
Gold nanorods were attached to the gene of enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) for the remote control of gene expression in living cells. The UV-vis spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the optical and structural properties of the EGFP DNA and gold nanorod (EGFP-GNR) conjugates before and after femto-second near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Upon NIR irradiation, the gold nanorods of EGFP-GNR conjugates underwent shape transformation that resulted in the release of EGFP DNA. When EGFP-GNR conjugates were delivered to cultured HeLa cells, induced GFP expression was specifically observed in cells that were locally exposed to NIR irradiation. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using gold nanorods and NIR irradiation as means of remote control of gene expression in specific cells. This approach has potential applications in biological and medical studies.
Chen
Chia-Chun
CC
Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116, Taiwan. cjchen@ntnu.edu.tw
Lin
Yen-Ping
YP
Wang
Chih-Wei
CW
Tzeng
Hsiao-Chien
HC
Wu
Chia-Hsuan
CH
Chen
Yi-Cheng
YC
Chen
Chin-Pei
CP
Chen
Li-Chyong
LC
Wu
Yi-Chun
YC
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006046:Gold; D004247:DNA