According to Wei-Ching Liao, the DNA capsule can be used not only for in vitro biomarker detection, but also for loading therapeutic drugs, and due to the high biocompatibility of DNA, it will have the opportunity to be developed as a controlled release drug delivery system in vivo. The research is a collaborative effort between Taiwan and Israel, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with the assistance of Wen-Hsin Chang, and Yi-Fang Lee. The research results have been published in Nanoscale, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s nanoscience research benchmark journal.
To test the DNA capsule, the research team further embedded microRNA-141 sensing sequences in the capsule’s bridging DNA. When the capsule detects the presence of a target microRNA in the environment, it induces a DNA sequence displacement, and the capsule acts as a key to unlock and release the signal molecules encapsulated inside, allowing the measurement of microRNA expression in the environment. Even the isothermal strand displacement polymerization/nicking amplification machinery can produce a large number of stimulating factors to open the capsule in a short time, making microRNA detection more accurate and fast. The microRNA detection is more accurate and faster.
MicroRNAs (microRNAs) are small fragments of non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules. Recent research evidence suggests that microRNA dysregulation is associated with diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuronal disease, and inflammatory responses, so microRNA detection can be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis or to understand the stage of disease development.
Using nucleic acid nanotechnology, scientists can use microRNAs as a key switch to open DNA capsules. Given the association of microRNA with cancer and the difficulty of detection, this technology will help to shorten the detection time and reach the limit of practical application.
The research team of Wei-Ching Liao focuses on the development of DNA-related nanotechnology, using chemical methods and techniques to combine the self-assembly, sensing and structural reorganization properties of DNA molecules, and applying them to the biomedical field in an attempt to solve important scientific problems of today.