Self-assembled multifunctional DNA nanoflowers for the circumvention of multidrug resistance in targeted anticancer drug delivery

Cancer chemotherapy has been limited by its side effects and multidrug resistance (MDR), the latter of which is partially caused by drug efflux from cancer cells. Thus, targeted drug delivery systems that can circumvent MDR are needed. Here, we report multifunctional DNA nanoflowers (NFs) for targeted drug delivery to both chemosensitive and MDR cancer cells that circumvented MDR in both leukemia and breast cancer cell models. NFs are self-assembled via potential co-precipitation of DNA and magnesium pyrophosphate generated by rolling circle replication, during which NFs are incorporated using aptamers for specific cancer cell recognition, fluorophores for bioimaging, and doxorubicin (Dox)-binding DNA for drug delivery. NF sizes are tunable (down to ~200 nm in diameter), and the densely packed drug-binding motifs and porous intrastructures endow NFs with a high drug-loading capacity (71.4%, wt/wt). Although the Doxloaded NFs (NF-Dox) are stable at physiological pH, drug release is facilitated under acidic or basic conditions. NFs deliver Dox into target chemosensitive and MDR cancer cells, preventing drug efflux and enhancing drug retention in MDR cells. NF-Dox induces potent cytotoxicity in both target chemosensitive cells and MDR cells, but not in nontarget cells, thus concurrently circumventing MDR and reducing side effects. Overall, these NFs are promising tools for circumventing MDR in targeted cancer therapy.