Title:Surface Functionalization of Extracellular Vesicles with Nucleic Acids
towards Biomedical Applications
Volume: 23
Issue: 14
Author(s): Rui Xu, Qian Tang, Yiwen Ying and Da Han*
Affiliation:
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai,
200127, P.R. China
Keywords:
Extracellular vesicle, Oligonucleotide, Aptamer, Logic device, DNA nanostructure, Diagnosis, Targeted delivery.
Abstract: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer-delimited particles secreted by cells and are
regarded as a promising class of nanocarriers for biomedical applications such as disease diagnosis,
drug delivery, and immunomodulation, as they carry biomarkers from the parental cells and can also
transport diverse cargo molecules between cells. Surface functionalization of EVs can help obtain
detectable signals for their quantification and also add various properties for EV-based delivery.
Aptamers are specific oligonucleotides selected as artificial antibodies that could serve as
‘cruise missiles’ to target EVs for diagnosis or as navigators to bring EVs to lesions for treatment.
DNA logic devices or nanostructures based on aptamers are intelligent designs to endow EVs with
additional features, such as multi-target disease diagnosis in one pot and promoting retention of EVs
in complex disease microenvironments. Oligonucleotides or DNA nanostructures composed of natural
nucleic acids can be easily degraded by nuclease in the biological sample which limits their applications.
Thus, the oligonucleotides composed of artificial nucleic acids which are synthesized
against degradation would be a potential strategy to improve their stability in vitro or in vivo. Herein,
we review the methods for surface functionalization of EVs by nucleic acids and highlight their
applications in quantification and targeted delivery towards disease diagnosis and therapy.
