title: DNA "nano-claw": logic-based autonomous cancer targeting and therapy.
abstract: Cell types, both healthy and diseased, can be classified by inventories of their cell-surface markers. Programmable analysis of multiple markers would enable clinicians to develop a comprehensive disease profile, leading to more accurate diagnosis and intervention. As a first step to accomplish this, we have designed a DNA-based device, called "Nano-Claw". Combining the special structure-switching properties of DNA aptamers with toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions, this claw is capable of performing autonomous logic-based analysis of multiple cancer cell-surface markers and, in response, producing a diagnostic signal and/or targeted photodynamic therapy. We anticipate that this design can be widely applied in facilitating basic biomedical research, accurate disease diagnosis, and effective therapy.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Chemistry and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University , Changsha 410082, China.
authors.forename: Mingxu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm