Multifunctional Aptamer-Nucleic Acid Nanostructures for Tumor-Targeted Killing

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions comprising a ligand-nucleic acid nanostructure that promote tumor cell-specific killing and methods of using the compositions. Specially, the invention provides aptamer-nucleic acid nanostructures for treating tumors in a mammal. The methods of making the compositions are also provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a first ligand that is specific for binding to a tumor cell, and a second ligand that is specific for binding to a death receptor on the tumor cell, wherein the first and second ligands are bound to a nucleic acid nanostructure. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first ligand is a first aptamer and the second ligand is a second aptamer. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the first aptamer is specific for binding to a tumor antigen on the surface of the tumor cell. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the tumor antigen is CD20. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the death receptor is TRAIL Receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1), TRAIL Receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) or tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR). 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the distance between the first aptamer and the second aptamer on the nucleic acid nanostructure is about 10 nm to about 15 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the first aptamer comprises a plurality of first aptamers, and the second aptamer comprises a plurality of second aptamers. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of first aptamers is present on the nucleic acid nanostructure at a density of 5-10 aptamers per nucleic acid nanostructure, and the plurality of second aptamers is present on the nucleic acid nanostructure at a density of 5-10 aptamers per nucleic acid nanostructure. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the distance between each aptamer of the plurality of first aptamers and the distance between each aptamer of the plurality of second aptamers on the nucleic acid nanostructure is about 5 nm to about 8 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of first aptamers to second aptamers on the nucleic acid nanostructure is 1:1. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the first aptamer comprises a dimer, trimer, tetramer, or pentamer of an aptamer that is specific for a tumor cell. 
     
     
         12 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid nanostructure comprises a nucleic acid tile. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the nucleic acid nanostructure comprises a plurality of nucleic acid tiles. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of nucleic acid tiles forms a nucleic acid tiling array. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         27 . A method of treating a tumor in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an amount effective to treat the tumor of a nucleic acid nanostructure that comprises a first ligand that is specific for a tumor cell, and a second ligand that is specific for a death receptor on the tumor cell, wherein the first and second ligands are bound to a nucleic acid nanostructure. 
     
     
         28 .- 37 . (canceled)