posted on 2021-08-17, 11:33authored byMorgan Chandler, Brian Minevich, Brandon Roark, Mathias Viard, M. Brittany Johnson, Mehedi H. Rizvi, Thomas A. Deaton, Seraphim Kozlov, Martin Panigaj, Joseph B. Tracy, Yaroslava G. Yingling, Oleg Gang, Kirill A. Afonin
Precise
control over the assembly of biocompatible three-dimensional
(3D) nanostructures would allow for programmed interactions within
the cellular environment. Nucleic acids can be used as programmable
crosslinkers to direct the assembly of quantum dots (QDs) and tuned
to demonstrate different interparticle binding strategies. Morphologies
of self-assembled QDs are evaluated via gel electrophoresis, transmission
electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and dissipative
particle dynamics simulations, with all results being in good agreement.
The controlled assembly of 3D QD organizations is demonstrated in
cells via the colocalized emission of multiple assembled QDs, and
their immunorecognition is assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays. RNA interference inducers are also embedded into the interparticle
binding strategy to be released in human cells only upon QD assembly,
which is demonstrated by specific gene silencing. The programmability
and intracellular activity of QD assemblies offer a strategy for nucleic
acids to imbue the structure and therapeutic function into the formation
of complex networks of nanostructures, while the photoluminescent
properties of the material allow for optical tracking in cells in
vitro.