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Photo courtesy of the Gu lab
Biomedical engineers have developed a drug delivery system in which cancer cells are “tricked” into absorbing nanoscale “cocoons” before
they unleash anticancer drugs.
Each cocoon is made of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase)-degradable DNA nanoclew embedded with an acid-responsive DNase I nanocapsule.
A cancer cell’s acidic environment prompts the DNase to degrade the cocoon and release the drug encapsulated in the endolysosomal compartment.
The engineers described the creation of these nano-cocoons and in vitro experiments testing the delivery of doxorubicin in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
“This drug delivery system is DNA-based, which means it is biocompatible and less toxic to patients than systems that use synthetic materials,” said study author Zhen Gu, PhD, of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
“This technique also specifically targets cancer cells, can carry a large drug load, and releases the drugs very quickly once inside the cancer cell.”
“In addition, because we used self-assembling DNA techniques, it is relatively easy to manufacture,” added Wujin Sun, a PhD student in Dr Gu’s lab.
Each nano-cocoon is made of a single strand of DNA that self-assembles into a structure measuring 150 nanometers across.
The core of the nano-cocoon contains the anticancer drug doxorubicin and DNase. The DNase, an enzyme that would normally dismantle the DNA cocoon, is contained by a thin polymer coating.
The surface of the nano-cocoon is studded with folic acid ligands. When the nano-cocoon encounters a cancer cell, the ligands bind the nano-cocoon to receptors on the surface of the cell, causing the cell to engulf the nano-cocoon.
Once the cocoon is inside the cancer cell, the cell’s acidic environment destroys the polymer sheath containing the DNase. The DNase then slices through the DNA cocoon, spilling doxorubicin into the cancer cell and killing it.
“We’re preparing to launch preclinical testing now,” Dr Gu said. “We’re very excited about this system and think it holds promise for delivering a variety of drugs targeting cancer and other diseases.” 
Photo courtesy of the Gu lab
Biomedical engineers have developed a drug delivery system in which cancer cells are “tricked” into absorbing nanoscale “cocoons” before
they unleash anticancer drugs.
Each cocoon is made of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase)-degradable DNA nanoclew embedded with an acid-responsive DNase I nanocapsule.
A cancer cell’s acidic environment prompts the DNase to degrade the cocoon and release the drug encapsulated in the endolysosomal compartment.
The engineers described the creation of these nano-cocoons and in vitro experiments testing the delivery of doxorubicin in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
“This drug delivery system is DNA-based, which means it is biocompatible and less toxic to patients than systems that use synthetic materials,” said study author Zhen Gu, PhD, of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
“This technique also specifically targets cancer cells, can carry a large drug load, and releases the drugs very quickly once inside the cancer cell.”
“In addition, because we used self-assembling DNA techniques, it is relatively easy to manufacture,” added Wujin Sun, a PhD student in Dr Gu’s lab.
Each nano-cocoon is made of a single strand of DNA that self-assembles into a structure measuring 150 nanometers across.
The core of the nano-cocoon contains the anticancer drug doxorubicin and DNase. The DNase, an enzyme that would normally dismantle the DNA cocoon, is contained by a thin polymer coating.
The surface of the nano-cocoon is studded with folic acid ligands. When the nano-cocoon encounters a cancer cell, the ligands bind the nano-cocoon to receptors on the surface of the cell, causing the cell to engulf the nano-cocoon.
Once the cocoon is inside the cancer cell, the cell’s acidic environment destroys the polymer sheath containing the DNase. The DNase then slices through the DNA cocoon, spilling doxorubicin into the cancer cell and killing it.
“We’re preparing to launch preclinical testing now,” Dr Gu said. “We’re very excited about this system and think it holds promise for delivering a variety of drugs targeting cancer and other diseases.”
Photo courtesy of the Gu lab
Biomedical engineers have developed a drug delivery system in which cancer cells are “tricked” into absorbing nanoscale “cocoons” before
they unleash anticancer drugs.
Each cocoon is made of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase)-degradable DNA nanoclew embedded with an acid-responsive DNase I nanocapsule.
A cancer cell’s acidic environment prompts the DNase to degrade the cocoon and release the drug encapsulated in the endolysosomal compartment.
The engineers described the creation of these nano-cocoons and in vitro experiments testing the delivery of doxorubicin in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
“This drug delivery system is DNA-based, which means it is biocompatible and less toxic to patients than systems that use synthetic materials,” said study author Zhen Gu, PhD, of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
“This technique also specifically targets cancer cells, can carry a large drug load, and releases the drugs very quickly once inside the cancer cell.”
“In addition, because we used self-assembling DNA techniques, it is relatively easy to manufacture,” added Wujin Sun, a PhD student in Dr Gu’s lab.
Each nano-cocoon is made of a single strand of DNA that self-assembles into a structure measuring 150 nanometers across.
The core of the nano-cocoon contains the anticancer drug doxorubicin and DNase. The DNase, an enzyme that would normally dismantle the DNA cocoon, is contained by a thin polymer coating.
The surface of the nano-cocoon is studded with folic acid ligands. When the nano-cocoon encounters a cancer cell, the ligands bind the nano-cocoon to receptors on the surface of the cell, causing the cell to engulf the nano-cocoon.
Once the cocoon is inside the cancer cell, the cell’s acidic environment destroys the polymer sheath containing the DNase. The DNase then slices through the DNA cocoon, spilling doxorubicin into the cancer cell and killing it.
“We’re preparing to launch preclinical testing now,” Dr Gu said. “We’re very excited about this system and think it holds promise for delivering a variety of drugs targeting cancer and other diseases.”