Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), colloidal nanoparticles functionalized with a dense and radially oriented layer of DNA, have emerged as a unique class of nanomaterials and opened new opportunities in biological detection. SNAs enable the design of highly tailorable chemical and biological probes because: (i) through the judicious choice of the DNA sequence (e.g. using aptamers that bind to specific analytes or complementary sequences that bind cellular RNA), it is possible to detect a wide range of analytes; (ii) SNAs enable intracellular measurements as unlike linear DNA sequences, they are taken up by cells without the need for transfection reagents and are resistant to nuclease degradation; and (iii) their modular structure allows different nanoparticle cores to be used for added functionality. Specifically, by using a functional enzyme as the nanoparticle core, it is possible to detect analytes for which DNA-based recognition sequences are not known. In this talk, I will describe the development of protein SNAs and discuss their potential use as detection tools for the molecular profiling of cells and identification of diseases based on intracellular signatures.

Colloidal protein spherical nucleic acids for live-cell chemical analysis

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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