Yitong Wang

Ordered DNA-Surfactant Hybrid Nanospheres Triggered by Magnetic Cationic Surfactants for Photon- and Magneto-Manipulated Drug Delivery and Release.

Here we construct for the first time ordered surfactant-DNA hybrid nanospheres of double-strand (ds) DNA and cationic surfactants with magnetic counterion, [FeCl3Br](-). The specificity of the magnetic cationic surfactants that can compact DNA at high concentrations makes it possible for building ordered nanospheres through aggregation, fusion, and coagulation. Cationic surfactants with conventional Br(-) cannot produce spheres under the same condition because they lose the DNA compaction ability. When a light-responsive magnetic cationic surfactant is used to produce nanospheres, a dual-controllable drug-delivery platform can be built simply by the applications of external magnetic force and alternative UV and visible light. These nanospheres obtain high drug absorption efficiency, slow release property, and good biocompatibility. There is potential for effective magnetic-field-based targeted drug delivery, followed by photocontrollable drug release. We deduce that our results might be of great interest for making new functional nucleic-acid-based nanomachines and be envisioned to find applications in nanotechnology and biochemistry.

Versatile Self-Assembly and Biosensing Applications of DNA and Carbon Quantum Dots Coordinated Cerium Ions

Self-assembly exploits noncovalent interactions to offer a facile and effective method for the construction of soft materials with multifunctionalities and diversity. In this work, fluorescence carbon quantum dots coordinated by Ce3+ ions (CQDCe) have been synthesized and exploited as building blocks to generate a series of hierarchical structures through the ionic self-assembly of CQDCe and biomolecules, namely DNA, myoglobin (Mb), and hyaluronic acid (HA). In particular, vesicles can be constructed by the simple mixing of oppositely charged CQDCe and DNA in water. The formation of unusual vesicles can be explained by the self-assembly of CQDCe with a rearranged structure and the rigid DNA biomolecular scaffolds. This facile noncovalent self-assembly method has inspired the innovative use of virgin DNA as a building block to construct vesicles rather than resorting to a sophisticated synthesis. The self-assembly of CQDCe-biopolymers was accompanied by aggregation-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching. The biosensing platform was designed to detect polypeptides and deoxyribonuclease I through competitive binding of CQDCe and enzymatic hydrolysis of the DNA backbone, respectively. We believe that the integrative self-assembly of CQDCe and DNA will enrich the theoretical study of vesicle formation by DNA molecules and extend the application of fluorescence carbon quantum dots in the biological field.

Inhibition of Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 Attenuates Acute Liver Allograft Rejection in Mice.

Acute liver allograft rejection is a serious complication after liver transplantation. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is expressed predominantly in the immune system and plays an important role in its development and function. However, the role of IRF4 in liver transplantation has never been investigated. In our current study, to evaluate the effect of IRF4 inhibition on recipient survival, IRF4 siRNA, or control siRNA, or PBS was injected into the liver allograft recipients through caudal vein. The survival time of mice treated with IRF4 siRNA (MST = 31.5 days) was prolonged significantly compared with that of mice treated with PBS (MST = 6 days) or control siRNA (MST = 6.5 days) (P < 0.001). IRF4 siRNA treatment displays lower induction of pro‐inflammatory levels, including TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ, and higher induction of anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 levels. Administration of anti‐IL‐10 into IRF4 siRNA‐treated mice resulted in shortened allograft survival and increased rejection scores. Furthermore, IRF4 inhibition promotes M2 macrophage differentiation in vivo and in vitro. And inhibition of macrophages with GdCl3 reverses the prolonged liver allograft survival and decreased liver rejection scores induced by IRF4 siRNA. In conclusion, inhibition of IRF4 attenuates acute liver allograft rejection in mice, and this is associated with promoted M2 macrophage differentiation.

Aptamer-functionalized DNA microgels: a strategy towards selective anticancer therapeutic systems

DNA microgels of oligonucleotides and polymers were constructed via a combination of DNA complementarity and photo-initiated free radical polymerization. The DNA microgels did not feature the conventional core-shell structure but were instead based on the copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylamide and DNA crosslinks. By incorporating the aptamer-functionalized moieties, the AptMG-Dox system was demonstrated to possess excellent biocompatibility and highly selective killing efficacy for target cancer cells via stimuli-responsiveness, which could provide immense potential as an intelligent drug delivery carrier for targeted cancer therapy.

Rapid-Forming and Self-Healing Agarose-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Adhesives and Potential Wound Dressings

To meet the progressive requirements of advanced engineering materials with superior physicochemical performances, self-healing and injectable hydrogels (AD hydrogels) based on agarose with pH-response were prepared through dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages by simply mixing nontoxic agarose-ethylenediamine conjugate (AG-NH2) and dialdehyde-functionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG) solutions. The self-healing and injectable capabilities of the hydrogels without any external stimulus are ascribed to dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages between the aldehyde groups of DF-PEG and amine groups on AG-NH2 backbone. It is demonstrated that the AD hydrogels possess interconnected porous morphologies, rapid gelation time, excellent deformability, and good mechanical strength. The incorporated Schiffs base imparts the hydrogels to the remarkable tissue adhesiveness. In vivo hemostatic tests on rabbit liver demonstrate that the hydrogels are able to stanch the severe trauma effectively. Compared with the conventional gauze treatment, the total amount of bleeding sharply declined to be (0.19 ± 0.03) g, and hemostasis time was strikingly shorter than 10 s after treating with AD hydrogels. In summary, the self-healing ability, cytocompatibility, and adhesion characteristic of the pH-responsive hydrogels make them promising candidates for long-lived wound dressings in critical situations.

Plasmonic core–shell ionic microgels for photo-tuning catalytic applications

Development of a breathing support with superior binding affinity for the facile immobilization of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) for remotely controlled chemical reactions is of immense scientific interest in catalytic applications. Herein, a straightforward and fast electrostatic self-assembly of Au NPs onto near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive plasmonic core–shell thermosensitive ionic microgels, which are based on gold nanorods (Au NRs) coated with microgel shells of ionic liquids, has been constructed. These self-assembled nanocomposites exhibit high catalytic activity and controllability as compared to other Au-based catalysts reported in literature for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. In the entire catalytic process, the NIR laser acts as a motor to drive the plasmonic core–shell ionic microgels for breathing and thereby tunes the progress of the catalytic reaction. Our results may provide a novel strategy, which is completely different from other traditional modes, to regulate the catalytic activity. The realization of this breathing modulation method induced by a remotely controlled way may create possibilities for the design of functional nanomaterials that can serve as intelligent catalysts with excellent catalytic activity.

Self-Assembled Magnetic Viruslike Particles for Encapsulation and Delivery of Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Developing nontoxic artificial carriers for stimuli-responsive capture, transport, and delivery of biomolecules is of immense scientific interest. Herein, for the first time, we synthesize a double-tailed cationic surfactant, (C16H33)2(CH3)2N+[FeCl3Br]-, which possesses magnetic properties [magnetic surfactants (Mag-Surfs)]. The time-dependent formation of virus-shaped hybrid mixed assemblies of polyoxometalates (POMs) {Mo72Fe30}/Mag-Surf with hollow-shell structures is followed. These structures serve well as robust high-surface-area shuttles, which can be manipulated with applied magnetic fields. By using cationic Mag-Surfs, the anionic POMs and DNA can be complexed in these ternary mixtures. These virus-shaped complexes act as nanoanchors and nanomotors, which can be utilized for binding, anchoring, and delivery of biomolecules, such as DNA. It is found that they have a good absorption capacity for DNA and myoglobin over 24 h, after application of a magnetic field. The realization of magnetic virus-shaped {Mo72Fe30}/Mag-Surf spheres may open possibilities for designing other functional nanoparticles, allowing effective control over the delivery/separation of biomolecules.

Nanocapsules of Magnetic Au Self-Assembly for DNA Migration and Secondary Self-Assembly

To endow valuable responsiveness to self-assemblies of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs), the magnetic Au nanoparticles (Au NPs)/C16H33(CH3)3N+[CeCl3Br]- (CTACe) mixtures were first prepared by using an emulsion self-assembly of a magnetic surfactant, C16H33(CH3)3N+[CeCl3Br]-. A versatile morphology of self-assemblies of Au NPs could be controlled by the counterions in surfactants including [CeCl3Br]-, [FeCl3Br]-, and Br- as well as solvent. In particular, the magnetic counterion, [CeCl3Br]-, can induce self-growth of Au NPs in an emulsion self-assembly process due to the oxidability of [CeCl3Br]-. It enhances the rigidity of Au NPs/CTACe scaffolds template compared with Au NPs/hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. [CeCl3Br]- engaged Au NPs/CTACe with fascinating capability of conglutination and targeted migration of DNA (150 μmol/L) under a magnet field. The conglutination capability of the DNA molecules can increase to 39.8% by adopting the magnetic strategy when using Au NPs/CTACe as a magnetic booster. Au NPs/CTACe mixtures can ideally self-assemble to be scaffolds, providing abundant conjugation sites of surface charges. Magnetic Au NPs/CTACe can serve as a template scaffold to secondary self-assemble with DNA (40 mmol/L) outside, producing smooth-faced and hollow DNA nanocapsules. We believe that the creative Au NPs/CTACe/DNA nanocapsules will extend the biological application field of Au NPs assemblies.