Molecular spherical nucleic acids.

ABSTRACT: Herein, we report a class of molecular spherical nucleic acid (SNA) nanostructures. These nano-sized single molecules are synthesized from T₈ polyoctahedral silsesquioxane and buckminsterfullerene C₆₀ scaffolds, modified with 8 and 12 pendant DNA strands, respectively. These conjugates have different DNA surface densities and thus exhibit different levels of nuclease resistance, cellular uptake, and gene regulation capabilities; the properties displayed by the C₆₀ SNA conjugate are closer to those of conventional and prototypical gold nanoparticle SNAs. Importantly, the C₆₀ SNA can serve as a single entity (no transfection agent required) antisense agent to efficiently regulate gene expression. The realization of molecularly pure forms of SNAs wi

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5924931 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature