title: Aptamer-guided DNA tetrahedron as a novel targeted drug delivery system for MUC1-expressing breast cancer cells in vitro.
abstract: Mucin 1 (MUC1) is an important molecular target for cancer treatment because it is overexpressed in most adenocarcinomas. In this study, a new MUC1-targeted drug delivery system was assembled using an aptamer (Apt) that could recognize MUC1 and a DNA tetrahedron (Td) that could carry doxorubicin (Dox) within its DNA structure. The complex thus formed (Apt-Td) had an average size of 12.38 nm and was negatively charged. Similar to the MUC1 aptamer, the Apt-Td could preferentially bind with MUC1-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. A drug loading experiment revealed that each Apt-Td complex could carry approximately 25 Dox molecules. Moreover, Apt-Td selectively delivered Dox into the MUC1-positive breast cancer cells but reduced Dox uptake by the MUC1-negative control cells. Dox-loaded Apt-Td also induced a significantly higher cytotoxicity to the MUC1-positive cancer cells versus the MUC1-negative control cells in vitro (p<0.01). These results suggest that Apt-Td may potentially serve as a drug carrier in the targeted treatment of MUC1-expressing breast cancers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bindong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: JinHong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Da
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000072283:A549 Cells; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019073:HT29 Cells; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D004317:Doxorubicin; D004247:DNA
keywords: DNA tetrahedron; MUC1; aptamer; cancer; targeted drug delivery