Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is associated with a high incidence rate in South China and is predominantly treated with radiotherapy; however, the survival rate remains low. The therapeutic effects of radiation and chemotherapy may be enhanced when combined with anti‑sense oligonucleotides targeting human telomerase RNA (hTR ASODN). However, the influence of hTR ASODN on the anti‑tumor effects...

Oligonucleotides containing cleavable linkers have emerged as versatile tools to achieve stimulus-responsive and site-specific cleavage of DNA. However, the limitations previously reported including photolabile disulfide restricted their applications in vivo. Inspired by cathepsin B-sensitive dipeptide antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) such Adcetris, we developed Val-Ala-02 Val-Ala-Chalcone phosp...

A series of non-nucleoside-based 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) phosphoramidites have been prepared and used in the multiple labelling of oligonucleotides during solid-phase synthesis. The length of spacer arm between the DNP label and the oligonucleotide phosphate backbone, and the number of attached DNP groups have both been varied in order to determine the optimum conditions for anti-DNP antibody b...

Numerous studies have revealed that Rap1 (Ras-proximate-1 or Ras-related protein 1), a small GTPase protein, plays a crucial role in mediating cAMP signaling in isolated cardiac tissues and cell lines. However, the involvement of Rap1 in the cardiac development in vivo is largely unknown. By injecting anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides to knock down Rap1a and Rap1b in zebrafish embryos, and...

Monocytes are important target cells for anti-inflammatory antisense strategies. However, monocytes are characterized by strong phagocytic and catalytic activity which may limit the effect of antisense oligonucleotides. Intracellular distribution of oligonucleotides in monocytes and the effect of cationic lipids on oligonucleotide uptake in monocytes and other leukocytes have not been evaluated...

Integrins have become key targets for molecular imaging and for selective delivery of anti-cancer agents. Here we review recent work concerning the targeted delivery of antisense and siRNA oligonucleotides via integrins. A variety of approaches have been used to link oligonucleotides to ligands capable of binding integrins with high specificity and affinity. This includes direct chemical conjug...

Precise genome editing by the Cas9 nuclease depends on exogenously provided templates for homologous recombination. Here, we compare oligonucleotides with short homology and circular DNA molecules with extensive homology to genomic targets as templates for homology-based repair of CRISPR/Cas9 induced double-strand breaks. We find oligonucleotides to be templates of choice for introducing small ...

Protein specific aptamers are highly applicable affinity ligands in different fields of research and clinical applications. They have been developed against various targets, in particular, bio-macromolecules such as proteins. Among human proteins, the coagulation factors are the most attractive targets for aptamer selection and their specific aptamers had valuable characteristics in therapeutic...