title: Semipermeable Functional DNA-Encapsulated Nanocapsules as Protective Bioreactors for Biosensing in Living Cells.
abstract: The development of functional DNA-based nanosensors in living cells has experienced some design challenges, including, for example, poor cellular uptake, rapid nuclease degradation, and high false positives. Herein, we designed selectively permeable poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) nanocapsules to encapsulate functional DNAs for metal ions and small-molecules sensing in living cells. Since functional DNAs are concentrated in the nanocapsules, an increasing reaction rate is obtained in vitro. During endocytosis, polymeric capsules simultaneously improve cellular uptake of functional DNAs and preserve their structural integrity inside the confined capsule space. More importantly, selective shell permeability allows for the free diffusion of small molecular targets through capsule shells but limits the diffusion of large biomolecules, such as nuclease and nonspecific protein. Compared to the free DNAzyme, PMA nanocapsules could reduce false positives and enhance detection accuracy. Furthermore, PMA nanocapsules are biocompatible and biodegradable. Through the controllability of wall thickness, permeability, and size distribution, these nanocapsules could be expanded easily to other targets, such as microRNAs, small peptides, and metabolites. These nanocapsules will pave the way for in situ monitoring of various biological processes in living cells and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.|Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States.
authors.forename: Cheng-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Xian
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.|Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and College of Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University , Changsha 410082, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Analysis and Detection Technology for Food Safety, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University , Fuzhou 350002, China.
authors.forename: Huang-Hao
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5894-0909
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and College of Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University , Changsha 410082, China.|Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Center for Research at the Bio/Nano Interface, UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8066-1524
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002232:Carbocyanines; D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C089187:cyanine dye 3; C030613:polymethacrylic acid; D007854:Lead; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA; D015032:Zinc