Nucleic acid based tetrahedral framework DNA nanostructures for fibrotic diseases therapy

As a type of novel biomaterial, DNA nanomaterial has been widely applied to biomedical area due to its self-assembly properties. Meanwhile, fibrotic diseases are common health problems, which can lead to multiple organs dysfunction and even death if without proper intervention and treatment. Therefore, we aim to develop the nucleic acids based tetrahedral framework DNA nanostructures (TFNAs) for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Four single-strand DNA were self-assembled to form tetrahedral framework DNA nanostructures and the anti-fibrotic effects of TFNAs were investigated with an in vitro TGF-β1-induced fibrotic model. TFNAs were successfully assembled and showed obvious cellular uptake. After TFNAs treatment, ROS overproduction, fibrosis-related biomolecules expression including collagen I, fibronectin and α-SMA were obviously reduced. DNA-based TFNAs could be promising biomaterials for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.