Yongjie Yang

Bio: Yongjie Yang is an academic researcher from University of Waterloo. The author has contributed to research in topics: Deoxyribozyme & Cancer. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 17 citations. Previous affiliations of Yongjie Yang include Yanbian University.

Zn2+ -Dependent DNAzymes: From Solution Chemistry to Analytical, Materials and Therapeutic Applications.

Abstract: Since 1994, deoxyribozymes or DNAzymes have been in vitro selected to catalyze various types of reactions. Metal ions play a critical role in DNAzyme catalysis, and Zn2+ is a very important one among them. Zn2+ has good biocompatibility and can be used for intracellular applications. Chemically, Zn2+ is a Lewis acid and it can bind to both the phosphate backbone and the nucleobases of DNA. Zn2+ undergoes hydrolysis even at neutral pH, and the partially hydrolyzed polynuclear complexes can affect the interactions with DNA. These features have made Zn2+ a unique cofactor for DNAzyme reactions. This review summarizes Zn2+ -dependent DNAzymes with an emphasis on RNA-/DNA-cleaving reactions. A key feature is the sharp Zn2+ concentration and pH-dependent activity for many of the DNAzymes. The applications of these DNAzymes as biosensors for Zn2+ , as therapeutic agents to cleave intracellular RNA, and as chemical biology tools to manipulate DNA are discussed. Future studies can focus on the selection of new DNAzymes with improved performance and detailed biochemical characterizations to understand the role of Zn2+ , which can facilitate practical applications of Zn2+ -dependent DNAzymes.

Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer to the lungs by inhibiting epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Abstract: Breast cancer is a highly aggressive cancer in females. Metastasis is a major obstacle to the efficient and successful treatment of breast cancer. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has anti-tumor effects on a variety of tumors. We showed that CTAB inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer to the lungs both in vitro and in vivo. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be one of the major processes mediating breast cancer metastasis. We found that CTAB suppressed EMT and regulated the levels of the classical EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and Twist1. Moreover, as a candidate anti-tumor agent, CTAB showed primary safety in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that CTAB inhibits the migration of primary breast cancer to the lungs. Our findings confirm the clinical potential of CTAB for the treatment of breast cancer by targeting EMT. CTAB may thus be a promising novel anti-tumor drug for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

Photoresponsive DNA materials and their applications.

Abstract: Photoresponsive nucleic acids attract growing interest as functional constituents in materials science. Integration of photoisomerizable units into DNA strands provides an ideal handle for the reversible reconfiguration of nucleic acid architectures by light irradiation, triggering changes in the chemical and structural properties of the nanostructures that can be exploited in the development of photoresponsive functional devices such as machines, origami structures and ion channels, as well as environmentally adaptable 'smart' materials including nanoparticle aggregates and hydrogels. Moreover, photoresponsive DNA components allow control over the composition of dynamic supramolecular ensembles that mimic native networks. Beyond this, the modification of nucleic acids with photosensitizer functionality enables these biopolymers to act as scaffolds for spatial organization of electron transfer reactions mimicking natural photosynthesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these exciting developments in the design of photoresponsive DNA materials, and showcases a range of applications in catalysis, sensing and drug delivery/release. The key challenges facing the development of the field in the coming years are addressed, and exciting emergent research directions are identified.

Heterometallic nanomaterials: activity modulation, sensing, imaging and therapy

Abstract: Heterometallic nanomaterials (HMNMs) display superior physicochemical properties and stability to monometallic counterparts, accompanied by wider applications in the fields of catalysis, sensing, imaging, and therapy due to synergistic effects between multi-metals in HMNMs. So far, most reviews have mainly concentrated on introduction of their preparation approaches, morphology control and applications in catalysis, assay of heavy metal ions, and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, it is very important to summarize the latest investigations of activity modulation of HMNMs and their recent applications in sensing, imaging and therapy. Taking the above into consideration, we briefly underline appealing chemical/physical properties of HMNMs chiefly tailored through the sizes, shapes, compositions, structures and surface modification. Then, we particularly emphasize their widespread applications in sensing of targets (e.g. metal ions, small molecules, proteins, nucleic acids, and cancer cells), imaging (frequently involving photoluminescence, fluorescence, Raman, electrochemiluminescence, magnetic resonance, X-ray computed tomography, photoacoustic imaging, etc.), and therapy (e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and chemodynamic therapy). Finally, we present an outlook on their forthcoming directions. This timely review would be of great significance for attracting researchers from different disciplines in developing novel HMNMs.