Fluorecently labeled bionanotransporters of nucleic acid based on carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new hybrid nanotransporter system using fluorescein-functionalized carbon nanotubes and oligonucleotides, designed for intracellular delivery of nucleic acids, based on stacking interactions with pyrene residues.

Contribution

It presents a novel non-covalent hybrid of fluorescein-labeled carbon nanotubes with oligonucleotides for nucleic acid transport.

Findings

Functionalized nanotubes can effectively sorb pyrene-conjugated oligonucleotides.

Different nanotube modifications influence sorption efficacy.

Hybrid nanotransporters show potential for intracellular nucleic acid delivery.

Abstract

Here we propose the approach to design of the new type of hybrids of oligonucleotides with fluorescein-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes. The approach is based on stacking interactions of functionalized nanotubes with pyrene residues in conjugates of oligonucleotides. The amino- and fluorescein-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes were obtained, and their physico-chemical properties were investigated. The effect of carbon nanotubes functionalization type on the efficacy of sorption of pyrene conjugates of oligonucleotides was examined. Proposed non-covalent hybrids of fluorescein-labeled carbon nanotubes with oligonucleotides may be used for intracellular transport of functional nucleic acids.