DNA Tetrahedral Sensors for Visualizing miR-21-Mediated Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a critical driver of tumor metastasis, making it a key target for anticancer therapy. While oncogenic miR-21 has been identified as a key promoter of tumor angiogenesis through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulation, existing approaches fail to visualize this epigenetic regulatory mechanism in real time. To address this gap, we developed two DNA tetrahedron sensors using DNA nanotechnology, enabling precise recognition and real-time visualization of miR-21 and its downstream VEGF mRNA through a dual-target synchronous detection strategy. Our results demonstrate that sensor 1 not only enables real-time imaging of miR-21-mediated angiogenesis in tumor cells but also exhibits robust antiangiogenic activity by specifically disrupting the miR-21/VEGF signaling pathway. This dual functionality effectively suppresses tumor cell migration and invasion. By integrating molecular diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, this strategy overcomes the limitations of conventional single-function sensors. It provides a novel tool for elucidating tumor angiogenesis mechanisms while highlighting the dual applications of DNA nanostructures in precision cancer therapy. This study opens new avenues for antimetastatic therapies based on epigenetic regulation and underscores the translational potential of functional DNA nanodevices in cancer treatment.