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Researchers from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications have developed a smart DNA-based nanodevice for thrombosis therapy, which can automatically detect blood clots and achieve precise drug delivery.
The research team used DNA origami technology to combine DNA nanosheets with pre-designed tissue plasminogen activator binding sites and coagulation-responsive DNA stabilizers. The stabilizer is a three-stranded DNA structure that acts as a coagulation regulator, threshold controller, and on-off switch.
Wang Lianhui, a member of the research team, said: “Thrombolytic drugs are a double-edged sword, as they can become dangerous if not used correctly, as the drugs may indiscriminately dissolve fibrin in ordinary wounds, leading to an improper clotting function.” “Normal, and in severe cases, open wounds and bleeding.”
However, the said nanodevice can determine whether it is near a blood clot or a wound based on the thrombin concentration. If the concentration is high, this indicates that the site contains a clot, and the device will then release the medication.
The researchers said that the device can be degraded and metabolized in the human body, adding that it is expected to provide a new solution for treating diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
The study was published online in the journal Nature Materials.
Source: Xinhua