Download High-efficient anticancer therapy using DNA nanostructure

High-efficient anticancer therapy using DNA
nanostructure
IBS researchers have succeeded in discovering a scientific principle that induces
DNA to deliver anticancer medicines and genes in to targeted cancer cells, as
well as significantly enhances therapeutic effects.
IBS researchers, who are led by Won Jong Kim, a group leader at the Center for
Self-assembly and Complexity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), as well as a
professor in the Department of Chemistry Polymer Research Institute, Pohang
University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), have found a scientific
principle to develop DNA structure with nanoparticles, which can intelligently
deliver therapeutic agents and genes in response to intracellular pH (potential of
hydrogen) levels. This technology can significantly improve anticancer therapy
by delivering anticancer medicines to cancer cells and by reducing a patient’s
tolerance to anticancer drugs.
By utilizing this technology, the diseased cells can be killed through a release of
medicines and genes with DNA that reduces anticancer drug tolerance in to
targeted cancer cells. Thus, this new principle of using nanoparticles is expected
to have implications in various fields, such as medical science, pharmacy,
healthcare, cancer treatments, etc.
Researchers have developed an intelligent DNA nanomachine that controls its
motion according to present conditions. They have conjugated pH-responsive
DNA (“i-motif DNA”) to gold nanoparticles, and then have hybridized the
complementary DNA and antisense DNA (a therapeutic gene) to the i-motif
DNA, respectively.
DNA structure with nanoparticles delivers anticancer medicines to genes to
fight cancer cells. The genes containing this medicine spread out within the cells
in response to low pH levels of endosome. Also, researchers have discovered
that when gold nanoparticles disperse, the attached antisense DNAs silences
genes that normally demonstrate drug tolerance.
This approach, unlike the existing method that invades normal cells, releases
medicines and genes, targeting specific cancer cells. This leads to increased
therapeutic effects and less side effects.
The findings in this research were published online, September 3, in the
prominent nanoscience journal, ACS Nano, issued by the American Chemical
Society (Impact factor of 12.033, top 5.33% of journals according to JCR
rankings).
Notes for editors
- The paper entitled “Tumor-Homing, Size-Tunable Clustered
Nanoparticles for Anticancer Therapeutics” was published online on
September 3. (DOI: 10.1021/nn503349g)
- For further information or to request media assistance, please contact: Mr.
Jinhwan Kim, IBS Center for Self-assembly and Complexity (+82-54279-8688; [email protected]) or Mr. Han Bin Oh, Overseas Public
Relations Officer, IBS Public Relations Team (+82-42-878-8182;
[email protected])
- Institute for Basic Science (IBS) was founded in 2011 by the government
of the Republic of Korea. With the sole purpose of driving forward the
development of basic science in Korea, IBS will be comprised of a total
of 50 research centers in all fields of basic science, including
mathematics, physics, chemistry, life science, earth science and
interdisciplinary science. IBS has launched 21 research centers as of
September 2014.