Detection of extracellular RNAs in cancer and viral infection via tethered cationic lipoplex nanoparticles containing molecular beacons

Yun Wu, Kwang Joo Kwak, Kitty Agarwal, Alexander Marras, Chao Wang, Yicheng Mao, Xiaomeng Huang, Junyu Ma, Bo Yu, Robert Lee, Anil Vachani, Guido Marcucci, John C. Byrd, Natarajan Muthusamy, Gregory Otterson, Kun Huang, Carlos E. Castro, Michael Paulaitis, Serge P. Nana-Sinkam, L. James Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Noninvasive early detection methods have the potential to reduce mortality rates of both cancer and infectious diseases. Here, we present a novel assay by which tethered cationic lipoplex nanoparticles containing molecular beacons (MBs) can capture cancer cell-derived exosomes or viruses and identify encapsulated RNAs in a single step. A series of ultracentrifugation and Exoquick isolation kit were first used to isolate exosomes from the cell culture medium and human serum, respectively. Cationic lipoplex nanoparticles linked onto the surface of a thin glass plate capture negatively charged viruses or cell-secreted exosomes by electrostatic interactions to form larger nanoscale complexes. Lipoplex/virus or lipoplex/exosome fusion leads to the mixing of viral/exosomal RNAs and MBs within the lipoplexes. After the target RNAs specially bind to the MBs, exosomes enriched in target RNAs are readily identified by the fluorescence signals of MBs. The in situ detection of target extracellular RNAs without diluting the samples leads to high detection sensitivity not achievable by existing methods, e.g., quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Here we demonstrate this concept using lentivirus and serum from lung cancer patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11265-11274
Number of pages10
JournalAnalytical Chemistry
Volume85
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 3 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry

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