Researchers are entering the cutting-edge field of small technologies that align with body defense mechanisms and are exploring new ways to improve our cure and prevent disease. They focus on creating tiny, line-like particles that can communicate with our human body’s defense systems, thus making future medical treatments not only more effective, but also free from unnecessary effects. This groundbreaking work aims to make once-fictional concepts a reality, thus changing our approach to health care.
Latest advances in the intersection of nucleic acid nanotechnology and immunology have opened up new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Interdisciplinary collaboration team, led by Dr. Kirill Afonin, including Laura Reboldo, Weina Ke, Krishna Magiti Dr. Krishna Majithia and Brittany Johnson of the University of Charlotte, University of Charlotte, Dr. Marina Dobrovolskaia and Nanotechnology from Nanotechnology Dr. Marina Dobrovolskaia, Ph.D., Frederick National Cancer Research Laboratory at Penn State University, and Dr. Jian Wang and Dr. Nikolay Dokholyan, Ph.D. in the regulation Breakthrough discoveries have been made in the immunostimulation performance of nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPS). Their innovative research, published in Dear ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, found a way to alleviate the immune system’s response to these particles.
Dr. Afonin explains the core of their findings: “By incorporating specific DNA aptamers into the structure of NANPS, we observed a regulated immune response through cytokine production measurements. This ability could be leveraged to alleviate potential inflammation caused by nanomedicine. “This innovative approach not only promises safer nanomedical applications, but also opens up new doors for the use of NANP in a variety of therapeutic areas.
To achieve their discovery, the team began a detailed experimental process. They first constructed the Nanps library, incorporating different aptamers into their structure. The purpose of this is to observe the immune system’s response to these modified particles. “The experiments were fully designed, covering different numbers of aptamers embedded in different locations of NANPS and observing their effects on immune responses,” explained Laura Rebolledo, the first author of the work. Through this process, the team is able to identify specific components that effectively reduce immune system activation.
“This study highlights the importance of structural activity relationships in NANP design. Our study demonstrates the potential of “soft” biodegradable NANPs designed with structural accuracy to avoid immune detection while more effectively retaining its intended function.” Dr. Afonin pointed out. This insight is critical to developing insights into NANPs that can be used safely in humans without causing unnecessary immune responses.
Regarding the implications of their discovery, Dr. Afonin shared “mechanical insights into how Nanps interact with the immune system, allowing us to fine-tune the immune response to better therapeutic outcomes.” This advancement marks the field of immunotherapy and vaccine development An important step is to provide new strategies for creating more effective and safer treatments. The concluding insights of this pioneering study highlight the important potential of fibrous NANP in biomedical applications, as discovered by Dr. Kirill Afonin and his team. Their work on aptamer-based NANPS modifications has laid the foundation for safer nanomedicine and highlighted innovative immunomodulatory strategies. Dr. Afonin and colleagues move forward, which marks the use of therapeutic benefits of the immune system, heralding new pathways for immunotherapies and vaccine development that can transform patient care globally.
Journal Reference
Rebolledo LP, Ke W, Cedrone E, Wang J, Majithia K, Johnson MB, Dokholyan NV, Dobrovolskaia MA, Afonin KA. Immunostimulation of fibrous nucleic acid nanoparticles can be regulated by aptamer-based functional parts: revealing structural-activity relationships and mechanical insights. ACS Application Materials and Interfaces, 16, 7, 8430–84412024. PMID: 38344840; doi:
