title: Chitosan combined with molecular beacon for mir-155 detection and imaging in lung cancer.
abstract: Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, thus developing effective methods for its early diagnosis is urgently needed. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs, miR) have been reported to play important roles in carcinogenesis and have become potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Molecular beacon (MB) technology is a universal technology to detect DNA/RNA expression in living cells. As a natural polymers, chitosan (CS) nanoparticles could be used as a carrier for safe delivery of nucleic acid. In this study, we developed a probe using nanoparticles of miR-155 MB self assembled with CS (CS-miR-155 MB) to image the expression of miR-155 in cancer cells. Hybridization assay showed that the locked nucleic acid (LAN) modified miR-155 MB could target miR-155 effectively and sensitively. The miR-155 MB self-assembly with CS nanoparticles formed stable complexes at the proper weight ratio. The CS nanoparticles showed higher fluorescence intensity and transfection efficiency than the lipid-based formulation transfection agent by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis. The CS-MB complexes were found to be easily synthesized and exhibited strong enzymatic stability, efficient cellular uptake, high target selectivity and biocompatibility. The CS-MB complexes can also be applied in other cancers just by simply changing for a targeted miRNA highly expressed in those cancer cells. Therefore, it is a promising vehicle used for detecting miRNA expression in living cells.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. zhuhaizhen_1234@163.com.
authors.forename: Hai-Zhen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, People's Liberation Army 532 Hospital, Huangshan 242700, China. anjianghong_123@163.com.
authors.forename: Jiang-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Cancer, Chengdu Military General Hospital, Chengdu 646000, China. yaoquan_123@163.com.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. 13883929713@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. snowrobin2000@163.com.
authors.forename: Xue-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. ilujfl@163.com.
authors.forename: Fei-Long
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. cgpfriend@163.com.
authors.forename: Guang-Peng
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. penglinaaini@126.com.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. liyongsheng_123@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. Sunjianguo_123@163.com.
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Cancer Institute of PLA, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. Chenzhengtang_123@163.com.
authors.forename: Zheng-Tang
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C524942:MIRN155 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D048271:Chitosan