Prolonged near-infrared fluorescence imaging of microRNAs and proteases in vivo by aggregation-enhanced emission from DNA-AuNC nanomachines.

ABSTRACT: Developing a comprehensive strategy for imaging various biomarkers (i.e., microRNAs and proteases) in vivo is an exceptionally formidable task. Herein, we have designed a deoxyribonucleic acid-gold nanocluster (DNA-AuNC) nanomachine for detecting tumor-related TK1 mRNA and cathepsin B in living cells and in vivo. The DNA-AuNC nanomachine is constructed using AuNCs and DNA modules that incorporate a three component DNA hybrid (TD) and a single-stranded fuel DNA (FD). Upon being internalized into tumor cells, the TK1 mRNA initiates the DNA-AuNC nanomachine through DNA strand displacement cascades, leading to the amplified self-assembly and the aggregation-enhanced emission of AuNCs for in situ imaging. Furthermore, with the aid of a protease nanomediator consistin

SUBMITTER: Wang T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10829036 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature