Dual-targeted nanocarrier based on cell surface receptor and intracellular mRNA: an effective strategy for cancer cell imaging and therapy.

Developing efficient methods for targeting cancer cells and encapsulating drugs coupled with activated release holds enormous potential for cancer cell imaging and therapy. Herein, a novel dual-targeted nanocarrier was developed on the basis of gold nanoparticles modified with a dense shell of synthetic oligonucleotides. The folic acid functionalized single-stranded DNA was designed to target the folate receptor on the cancer cell surface, and the molecular beacon was employed as drug carrier for activated release associated with intracellular tumor mRNA. Intracellular experiments indicated that the dual-targeted nanocarrier could be preferentially internalized into cancer cells due to the folate receptor targeting and release Doxorubicin (Dox) selectively in cancer cells because of the activated release with intracellular mRNA. The nanocarrier could reduce the dosage and greatly improve the therapeutic effect of drugs in cancer cells. Moreover, the nanocarrier can identify the changes of the express level of tumor mRNA and release Dox in a controlled manner in cancer cells, which would be beneficial for cancer therapy.