Sensing of survivin mRNA in malignant astrocytes using graphene oxide nanocarrier-supported oligonucleotide molecular beacons

While a significant progress has recently been made in therapy of many cancers, the cure for some high grade cancers, such as the astrocytic cancers, remains elusive. In the latter case, specificity and functionality of the brain tissue limit the options available to surgical and chemotherapeutic treatments. In view of the prospects of reversible blood -brain barrier opening, we have investigated the possibility of a transfection of malignant astrocyte cells with novel graphene oxide nanosheet (GONS) nanocarrier-supported molecular beacons (MB) encoded for the detection of a biomarker survivin (Sur). The behavior of GONS-supported SurMBs (GONS@SurMB) has been characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, melting transients, resonance elastic light scattering, and cell viability testing. With the GONS@SurMB, we have achieved the limit of detection for tDNA at 37 degrees C: LOD = 24 nM (S/N =3). In tests with complementary targets and mismatched strands, the proposed fluorescent turn -on GONS@SurMB probes have shown a single-nucleotide polymorphism sensitivity. We have demonstrated the transfection of U-87 MG astrocyte cells with GONS@SurMB nanocarriers which release SurMB upon mRNA detection. The MTT tests indicate that the GONS carrier concentrations up to 133 tig/mL are not cytotoxic to astrocyte cells, although a cell assembly has been encountered at higher carrier concentrations. The GONS alone does not assemble appreciably up to 80 tig/mL. The proposed method can be used for the detection of Sur mRNA in malignant cells and the GONS@SurMB nanocarriers can also be considered as viable candidates for future gene therapy of brain cancers. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.