biostudies-literatureLoh PSMinistry of EducationNational University of SingaporeAgency for Science, Technology and Research370https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9962178biostudies-literatureUnknown15(2)Covalently closed dumbbell-shaped DNA delivery vectors comprising the double-stranded gene(s) of interest and single-stranded hairpin loops on both ends represent a safe, stable and efficacious alternative to viral and other non-viral DNA-based vector systems. As opposed to plasmids and DNA minicircles, dumbbells can be conjugated via the loops with helper functions for targeted delivery or imaging. Here, we investigated the non-covalent linkage of tri-antennary N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc3) or a homodimer of a CD137/4-1BB-binding aptamer (aptCD137-2) to extended dumbbell vector loops via complementary oligonucleotides for targeted delivery into hepatocytes or nasopharyngeal cancer cells. Enlarging the dumbbell loop size from 4 to 71 nucleotides for conjugation did not impair gene expresPharmaceuticsNon-Covalent Linkage of Helper Functions to Dumbbell-Shaped DNA Vectors for Targeted Delivery.PMC9962178NUHSRO/2017/068/Bridging/06H19H0G1006T1-BSRG 2015-05T1-2014Apr-02Loh PSPatzel VfalseNon-Covalent Linkage of Helper Functions to Dumbbell-Shaped DNA Vectors for Targeted Delivery.Covalently closed dumbbell-shaped DNA delivery vectors comprising the double-stranded gene(s) of interest and single-stranded hairpin loops on both ends represent a safe, stable and efficacious alternative to viral and other non-viral DNA-based vector systems. As opposed to plasmids and DNA minicircles, dumbbells can be conjugated via the loops with helper functions for targeted delivery or imaging. Here, we investigated the non-covalent linkage of tri-antennary N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc3) or a homodimer of a CD137/4-1BB-binding aptamer (aptCD137-2) to extended dumbbell vector loops via complementary oligonucleotides for targeted delivery into hepatocytes or nasopharyngeal cancer cells. Enlarging the dumbbell loop size from 4 to 71 nucleotides for conjugation did not impair gene expres2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-25T23:05:11.696Z2025-04-06T09:17:20.945ZS-EPMC99621783683969710.3390/pharmaceutics15020370