Work

Remote Optical Switch for Localized and Selective Control of Gene Interference

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: Near infrared-absorbing gold nanoplasmonic particles (GNPs) are used as optical switches of gene interference and are remotely controlled using light. We have tuned optical switches to a wavelength where cellular photodamage is minimized. Optical switches are functionalized with double-stranded oligonucleotides. At desired times and at specific intracellular locations, remote optical excitation is used to liberate gene-interfering oligonucleotides. We demonstrate a novel gene-interfering technique offering spatial and temporal control, which is otherwise impossible using conventional gene-interfering techniques.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/nl802689k

Authors: Somin Eunice Lee, Gang Logan Liu, Franklin Kim, Luke P. Lee

Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: RNA Interference and Gene Delivery

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Physical Science Consortium, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute

Awards: G4261980214, G933696340