Biology subjects

Scarton, D. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Scarton, D. V..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Direct Synthesis of Targeted Nanosized ICG J-aggregate for Photoacoustic Imaging

Indocyanine green (ICG) J-aggregates (JAs) are self-assembled particles characterized by a sharp and strong absorption peak in the near-infrared region ([~]890 nm), enhanced photostability, low fluorescence, and high photothermal conversion efficiency, compared to monomeric ICG. These attributes make ICG-JAs promising contrast agent candidates for photoacoustic imaging (PAI). However, traditional methods for synthesizing ICG-JAs often yield particles without targeting ability, which limit their applications. Thus, to synthesize targeted nanoscale JA, complex and multi-step encapsulation and filtration processes are generally required. To solve this issue, we introduce a robust and rapid strategy for direct synthesis of targeted nanoscale ICG-JA by co-assembling ICG and ICG-azide dyes under optimized formulation conditions that do not require encapsulation. The resulting nanoscale JAAZ particles (nJAAZ) exhibit diameters of [~]120-150 nm and are amenable to direct bio-orthogonal functionalization via copper-free click chemistry for the attachment of virtually any targeting ligands and/or biomolecules. We further demonstrate the strong photoacoustic signal generation of these nJAAZ in vitro and in vivo, highlighting their potential as a modular high-performance contrast agent platform for PAI. This work establishes a scalable and tunable platform for engineering functional JAs, opening new avenues for targeted molecular imaging and theranostic applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Designer DX-tile DNAns hydrogels

Pure deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hydrogels synthesized via the hybridization of multi-arm DNA tiles are uniquely programmable and functionalizable biomaterials suitable for applications ranging from biosensing to cell-free protein production and soft tissue engineering. However, the full potential of the design flexibility and functionalization offered by DNA molecules has not yet been leveraged for pure DNA hydrogels, thereby limiting their range of mechanical properties and reducing their versatility and broader use. In this study, we introduce multi-arm double-crossover (DX)-tile motifs, often used in DNA nanoparticle design, to enable greater control over the hydrogels mechanical properties and facilitate functionalization. Specifically, we demonstrate that modifying structural design parameters, such as the arm geometry, length, valency, and linker design, allows fine control of the elastic modulus and viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels. We also show that functionalization can be performed without compromising the hydrogels physical properties and exhibit enhanced mechanical strength and tunable properties, compared to simple duplex-based DNA hydrogels. Furthermore, these DNA hydrogels demonstrated printability and scalability, which pave the way towards the development of novel formulations and bioinks for the rational design of soft tissue engineering scaffolds and broaden the use of DNA hydrogels for other biomedical applications.

bioengineering↗