Recent advances in DNA nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and treatment

Abstract The elucidation of the structural characteristics of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by Watson and Crick, the advent of polymerase chain reaction technology, and the development of primer-synthesis methods, enable DNA to be replicated and transformed in an increasingly easy manner, such that it is among the most directed and evolving nanomaterials in molecular biology. Traditional cancer diagnosis methods are somewhat limited and are unable to meet existing needs; consequently, DNA nanostructures with wide ranging properties are receiving increasingly more attention because a number of DNA materials have been shown to exhibit diagnostic properties. Some DNA materials can functionally alter the biological behavior of cells, such as cell migration, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, autophagy, and anti-inflammatory effects. Some single-stranded DNA or ribonucleic acid with secondary structure through self-pairing, called aptamer, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), have targeting capabilities and can be applied to tumor targeted diagnosis and therapy. Several DNA nanomaterials with three-dimensional nanostructures and stable structures are being investigated as drug carrier systems to act on a variety of antitumor drugs or gene therapy agents. This article reviews the use of functionalized DNA nanostructures in cancer diagnosis and treatment applications. Various biosensors and carriers based on DNA nanostructures are introduced and chemical reactions related to the preparation of the carrier and the signal transduction mechanism of the sensor are discussed. Efficient carrier/biosensor platforms based on various structural developments and current DNA nanomaterial developments are also presented.