Scientists at the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente in The Netherlands have designed new molecular "cages" that are capable or carrying and delivering drugs or DNA-fragments locally.
The cages are spherical porous structures which can be opened by letting small molecules play the role of "keys" that oxidise the iron and break the bond between the DNA and the polymer.
In the same way, it is possible to free DNA-fragments from the cage, and apply them to gene therapy, where genes are then inserted into cells and tissue to treat inherited diseases.
The challenges for gene therapy are to develop vehicles that deliver genetic material into cells without toxicity.
Macroporous materials like the ones developed by the University of Twente have a wide range of possible applications, but are difficult to make due to the size of their pores – usually larger than 50 nanometres.
However, the research team led by Prof. Julius Vancso has managed to tackle this issue by simply using the different natural properties of the two types of molecules – DNA has a negative electrical charge while the polymer containing iron is positively charged.
As a result the DNA-polymer combination is an example of "self-assembly" in which molecules organise themselves and bind together thanks to electrostatic forces.
"It is a powerful new method to create the materials and an important step towards innovative applications for drug delivery," said the researchers.
The research was published yesterday in Angewandte Chemie International.
