Transferrin Aptamers Increase the In Vivo Blood-Brain Barrier Targeting of Protein Spherical Nucleic Acids.

ABSTRACT: The systemic delivery of exogenous proteins to cells within the brain and central nervous system (CNS) is challenging due to the selective impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Herein, we hypothesized that protein delivery to the brain could be improved via functionalization with DNA aptamers designed to bind transferrin (TfR) receptors present on the endothelial cells that line the BBB. Using β-galactosidase (β-Gal) as a model protein, we synthesized protein spherical nucleic acids (ProSNAs) comprised of β-Gal decorated with TfR aptamers (Transferrin-ProSNAs). The TfR aptamer motif significantly increases the accumulation of β-Gal in brain tissue in vivo following intravenous injection over both the native protein and ProSNAs containing nontargeting DNA sequences. Furthe

SUBMITTER: Kusmierz CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10424462 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature