Effect of an alkyl spacer on the morphology and internalization of MUC1 aptamer-naphthalimide amphiphiles for targeting and imaging triple negative breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Despite decades of research, there are few targeted treatment options available for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), leaving chemotherapy, and radiation treatment regimes with poor response and high toxicity. Herein aptamer-amphiphiles were synthesized which selectively bind to the mucin-1 (MUC1) glycoprotein that is overexpressed in TNBC cells. These amphiphiles have a fluorescent tail (1,8-naphthalimide or 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide) which enables self-assembly of the amphiphiles and allows for easy visualization without the requirement for further conjugation of a fluorophore. Interestingly, the length of the alkyl spacer (C₄ or C₁₂) between the aptamer and tail was shown to influence the morphology of the self-assembled structure, and thus its ability to inter

SUBMITTER: Kuang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7823120 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature