title: Remote optical switch for localized and selective control of gene interference.
abstract: Near infrared-absorbing gold nanoplasmonic particles (GNPs) are used as optical switches of gene interference and are remotely controlled using light. We have tuned optical switches to a wavelength where cellular photodamage is minimized. Optical switches are functionalized with double-stranded oligonucleotides. At desired times and at specific intracellular locations, remote optical excitation is used to liberate gene-interfering oligonucleotides. We demonstrate a novel gene-interfering technique offering spatial and temporal control, which is otherwise impossible using conventional gene-interfering techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Somin Eunice
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gang Logan
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Luke P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D034622:RNA Interference; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D006046:Gold; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases