# Vision of Life’s Code: Molecular Probe Nanoarchitectonics for Deep RNA/DNA Illumination

**Authors:** Linawati Sutrisno, Kewei Sun, Katsuhiko Ariga

PMC · DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c22282 · 2026-02-19

## TL;DR

This paper explores new ways to improve RNA and DNA imaging using molecular probe nanoarchitectonics for better disease detection and manipulation.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a multidisciplinary framework and nanoarchitectonics-based design for single-step RNA/DNA imaging.

## Key findings

- Current RNA/DNA imaging systems are limited by the need for multiple chemical probes.
- Nanoarchitectonics can enable single-step multiplexed RNA–DNA imaging.
- A conceptual framework is proposed to guide next-generation imaging technology development.

## Abstract

Visualization of
RNA and DNA provides a window of opportunity
for
the early detection of multiple diseases and approaches to manipulate
them before any pathological processes occur. However, current imaging
systems often fail to meet these demands due to the need for multiple
RNA and DNA chemical probes, which increases experimental complexity,
reduces awareness of false positives, and limits imaging accuracy
in complex biosystems. In this work, we identify the key challenges
associated with using multiple probes for RNA and DNA imaging and
analyze the mechanisms and performance of existing imaging tools.
This article also introduces a conceptual framework and proposes a
multidisciplinary framework to guide the development of next-generation
imaging technologies. Furthermore, we highlight how nanoarchitectonics-based
molecular design can enable single-step multiplexed RNA–DNA
imaging. Our goal is to provide valuable resources for both biologists
and probe developers for choosing suitable molecular probes and further
advancing their design, from initial concepts to commercial productsall
from a biologist’s perspective.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** DR1 (down-regulator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 1810] {aka NC2, NC2-BETA, NC2B, NCB2}
- **Diseases:** Phototoxicity (MESH:D017484), cancer (MESH:D009369), Necrosis (MESH:D009336), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420)
- **Chemicals:** xenon (MESH:D014978), polydopamine (MESH:C568283), ethanol (MESH:D000431), cytosine (MESH:D003596), water (MESH:D014867), nitrogen (MESH:D009584), glycans (MESH:D011134), CO (MESH:D002248), carbon (MESH:D002244), polymer (MESH:D011108), thiazole orange (MESH:C051000), methanol (MESH:D000432), Au (MESH:D006046), AO (MESH:D000165), metal (MESH:D008670), acridine (MESH:D000166), salt (MESH:D012492), phosphate (MESH:D010710), -quinone (MESH:C004532), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), Glutaraldehyde (MESH:D005976), pyrazine (MESH:D011719), DAPI (MESH:C007293), lipid (MESH:D008055), PFA (MESH:C003043), Hoechst 33342 (MESH:C017807), hydrocarbon (MESH:D006838), Groove (-), propidium iodide (MESH:D011419), mercury (MESH:D008628), SYTO 13 (MESH:C461159)
- **Species:** C. elegans [taxon 328850], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Cell lines:** MCF-7 — Homo sapiens (Human), Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0031)

## Figures

14 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12961940/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12961940