Nanoflare Couple: Multiplexed mRNA Imaging and Logic-Controlled Combinational Therapy

Theranostics, which combines both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in one dose, has always been an intractable challenge in personalized cancer treatment. Herein, a versatile nanotheranostic platform "nanoflare couple (NC)" has been developed for in situ multiplex cancer-related mRNA imaging and subsequent logic-controlled aggregation of gold nanoparticles, leading to gene therapy and photothermal therapy upon irradiation with infrared light. As a proof of concept, TK1 and survivin mRNAs that are highly expressed in most tumor tissues are selected as endogenous cancer indicators and therapy triggers to design the NC. Mice bearing breast cancer cells MCF-7 are prepared as a model to test its efficacy. The in vitro and in vivo assays validate that the NC show the capability for multiplexed mRNA imaging and high efficiency for logic-controlled combinational therapy of breast cancer.