Nature-inspired molecular dynamic recruitment for amplified imaging of cell membrane protein

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2025-03, Vol.426, p.137113, Article 137113
• Main Authors: Zhu, Zhiqiang, Zhu, Xiaoli, Deng, Juan, Yuan, Qianqin, Chang, Peng, Gu, Zhun, Shen, Danfeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DNA self-assembly technology; Entropy driven circuit; Membrane protein imaging; Molecular dynamic recruitment; Upconversion nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0925-4005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2024.137113

Cell membrane proteins are important components used to study cellular life processes and for clinical diagnostics. Currently, the signal of membrane protein imaging is limited to the pivot of the target, significantly limiting signal amplification efficiency and output, unlike the efficiency observed in solution systems. Inspired by the widespread recruitment phenomenon in natural life activities, here, we propose a molecular dynamic recruitment technique for the amplified imaging of cell membrane proteins. It overcomes the limitations of imaging based on the target protein as a pivot point, allowing the signal at the pivot point to diffuse across the entire cell membrane, significantly enhancing signal amplification capability. To achieve this goal, firstly, two types of DNA are labeled respectively to the cell membrane and membrane proteins. Then, the strand displacement of the effector DNA triggers molecular dynamic recruitment based on an entropy-driven circuit, recruiting a large number of probes from the solution to the cell membrane, thus realizing the amplified imaging of membrane proteins. In summary, we have constructed a novel platform for amplified imaging of membrane protein, providing a new perspective for the application of cell diagnostics. •Molecular dynamic recruitment is introduced for amplified imaging of protein targets.•The limitation of imaging methods that relying on the target as a pivot are overcome.•Both UCNPs and traditional fluorophores can be used in molecular dynamic recruitment.