Lipid modification of DNA tetrahedrons enhances cellular uptake, migration, and in vivo uptake

Abstract

The extraordinary self-assembling nature of DNA nanostructures and high functionality enable the formulation of DNA nanostructures with multiple chemical and biological molecules. It is currently unknown exactly how these modified DNA nanostructures are incorporated into the organisms as a whole, in their native or modified forms, or how stable they are within. Here, we report the fabrication and evaluation of a conjugate of a cationic lipid, N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy) propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), and a DNA tetrahedron nanostructure (TdN), for the enhanced uptake, stability, bioimaging, and biotherapeutics in cells and zebrafish (Danio rerio) eleuthero embryos as a model organism. We summarize the enhanced uptake potential of the TdN-DOTMA conjugate for futuristic biomedical applications such as drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, and therapeutics.