Controlled Release of Encapsulated Cargo from a DNA Icosahedron using a Chemical Trigger

摘要

DNA is emerging as a powerful substrate for nanoconstruc-tion. Three dimensional (3D) polyhedra based on DNA have potential as "smart" delivery devices for molecular cargo in living systems. A few reports have demonstrated the encapsulation of various molecular cargo within DNA polyhedra and their preliminary applications in cells and in vivo. However, to fully realize the potential of these polyhedra as carriers, a major challenge is the development of spatiotemporal release of the encapsulated cargo. If the cargo release process is coupled to the sensing of a given biomo-lecular signal, DNA polyhedra would then have the capacity to deliver a molecular payload in response to endogenous signals with both spatial and temporal control. Herein we demonstrate the controlled opening of a DNA icosahedron loaded with molecular cargo, in response to an external trigger, namely cyclic-di-GMP (cdGMP). cdGMP acts as a second messenger in bacteria and regulates processes such as signal transduction, response to the environment, transition from sessile to motile life forms and metabolism.