DNAzyme‐Functionalized Nanomaterials: Recent Preparation, Current Applications, and Future Challenges

Abstract

DNAzyme–nanomaterial bioconjugates are a popular hybrid and have received major attention for diverse biomedical applications, such as bioimaging, biosensor development, cancer therapy, and drug delivery. Therefore, significant efforts are made to develop different strategies for the preparation of inorganic and organic nanoparticles (NPs) with specific morphologies and properties. DNAzymes functionalized with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), graphene oxide (GO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are introduced and summarized in detail in this review. Moreover, the focus is on representative examples of applications of DNAzyme–nanomaterials over recent years, especially in bioimaging, biosensing, phototherapy, and stimulation response delivery in living systems, with their several advantages and drawbacks. Finally, the perspective regarding the future directions of research addressing these challenges is also discussed and highlighted.

A DNA walker triggered isothermal amplification method based on freezing construction of AuNP probes and its application in ricin detection

“…23,24 Several isothermal amplification techniques such as rolling circle amplification (RCA), exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR), strand displacement amplification (SDA), hybridization chain reaction (HCR), and DNAzyme have been proposed. [25][26][27][28][29] Considering the simple primer design, exponential amplification kinetics, and high amplification efficiency, the EXPAR has attracted considerable attention. 30,31 In the EXPAR, short ssDNA (single-stranded DNA) can trigger a combination of polymerase strand extension and single-strand nicking, so the "extension-cleavagestrand displacement" can be repeated continuously and result in amplification.…”

Spatiotemporally Controlled Ultrasensitive Molecular Imaging Using a DNA Computation-Mediated DNAzyme Platform

“…Ultrasensitive and precise intracellular biomolecule imaging is of great significance for accurate disease diagnosis and prognostic estimation. − As a class of functional single-stranded DNA that possesses enzymatic properties, deoxyribozyme (DNAzyme) based-probes have become promising candidates for molecular imaging and attracted tremendous interest owing to their merits of flexible programmability and facile synthesis. − Compared with traditional imaging probes, DNAzyme probes can be easily designed for different applications by introducing the desired DNAzyme with specifically programmable sequences that can recognize different targets. , Accordingly, considerable endeavors have been devoted to develop DNAzyme probes for imaging analysis of various disease-related species including miRNAs, , metal ions, − pathogens − other clinically relevant biomarkers, − and so forth. Despite these progresses, the following two non-negligible limitations of the reported DNAzyme probes still prevent their widespread bio-imaging application: (1) traditional DNAzyme probes are continuously in a “always-active” state and passive signal responses will be unavoidably generated when they encountered with targets at undesired time point and position, resulting in the false positive signals; (2) detection sensitivity will be unavoidably reduced because of the photo-bleaching and weak fluorescence signals at low concentration of the fluorescent dyes labeled for DNAzyme probes.…”

Recent Advances on DNAzyme-Based Biosensors for Detection of Uranyl

“…DNAzymes with high metal-binding affinity and specificity show great promise as molecular tools in the design of diverse biosensors and nanodevices, benefiting from their unique characters, including low nonspecific adsorption, good stability, and easy preparation ( Zhou et al, 2017 ; Jouha and Xiong, 2021 ). Moreover, the recycling of target molecule properties makes DNAzymes outstanding signal amplifiers for enzyme-free and highly sensitive detection of many different metal ions ( Saidur et al, 2017 ; Jouha and Xiong, 2021 ; Khan et al, 2021 ). UO 2 2+ -specific DNAzyme was firstly selected by Lu group and a fluorescent sensor was developed simultaneously ( Liu et al, 2007 ).…”