A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Formation and cellular uptake of Bleomycin saccharide decorated molecular spherical nucleic acids evaluated by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy; 
Authors: Laine, Toni; Kähärä, Iida; Yliperttula, Ann-Mari; Özliseli, Ezgi; Siekkinen, Saara; Löfman, Emilia; Lisitsyna, Ekaterina; Gerlander, Annika; Gulumkar, Vijay; Vuorimaa-Laukkanen, Elina; Rosenholm, Jessica M.; Yliperttula, Marjo; Poijärvi-Virta, Päivi; Virta, Pasi
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences
ISSN: 1474-905X
eISSN: 1474-9092
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-026-00910-3
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43630-026-00910-3
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/524865881
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Oligonucleotide-carbohydrate conjugates is an efficient strategy to provide cell-specific delivery of oligonucleotides. Combining the multivalent nature of molecular spherical nucleic acids (MSNAs) with a proper glyco-decoration results in multiglyco-oligonucleotide constructs, which could potentially increase the sugar-based cell surface recognition and widen the scope of sugars applied for delivery. On the other hand, MSNAs are prone to scavenger A-receptor-mediated endocytosis, the strength of which can hardly be compensated by the sugar-mediated delivery. In this report, the formation of bleomycin saccharide-decorated MSNAs was evaluated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies, revealing significant effects on the fluorescence quantum yields and negative cooperativity. Cellular uptake of the MSNAs in cancerous 22Rv1 and PC3 cell-lines was evaluated by fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), wide-field microscopy, and flow cytometry. In addition, optimized synthesis and further characterization (homogeneity and molecular mass evaluation, DNase I stability) of these hybridization-mediated macromolecular glycoclusters, consisting of 36 mono/disaccharide units, were described.Oligonucleotide-carbohydrate conjugates is an efficient strategy to provide cell-specific delivery of oligonucleotides. Combining the multivalent nature of molecular spherical nucleic acids (MSNAs) with a proper glyco-decoration results in multiglyco-oligonucleotide constructs, which could potentially increase the sugar-based cell surface recognition and widen the scope of sugars applied for delivery. On the other hand, MSNAs are prone to scavenger A-receptor-mediated endocytosis, the strength of which can hardly be compensated by the sugar-mediated delivery. In this report, the formation of bleomycin saccharide-decorated MSNAs was evaluated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies, revealing significant effects on the fluorescence quantum yields and negative cooperativity. Cellular uptake of the MSNAs in cancerous 22Rv1 and PC3 cell-lines was evaluated by fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), wide-field microscopy, and flow cytometry. In addition, optimized synthesis and further characterization (homogeneity and molecular mass evaluation, DNase I stability) of these hybridization-mediated macromolecular glycoclusters, consisting of 36 mono/disaccharide units, were described.
Keywords:
Antisense oligonucleotide, Bleomycin, Carbohydrate conjugates, Fluorescence lifetime microscopy, molecular spherical nucleic acids
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |
Funding information in the publication:
Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital).
Financial support of the Doctoral Programme in Exact Sciences (EXACTUS), University of Turku, Finnish Cultural Foundation and Turku University Foundation are acknowledged. Academy of Finland (projects no. 311362 and 363128, flagship GeneCellNano, PREIN flagship pro-gramme), EU consortium project ‘Non-Animal Platform for Nanoparticle-Based Delivery Across the Blood–Brain Barrier Interface with Vehicle Evolution’(NAP4DIVE) led by Åbo Akademi University is acknowledged. Business Finland co-innovation project “3D Cure” (575/31/2023).