Click and photo-release dual-functional nucleic acid nanostructures

Abstract

We functionalize nucleic acid nanostructures with click chemistry (for attachment of cargos) and a photocleavable linker (for release). We demonstrate cargo attachment using a fluorescein dye and release using UV trigger from an RNA three-way junction, a DNA star motif and a DNA tetrahedron. Such multifunctional nucleic acid nanostructures have potential in targeted drug delivery.