Aptamer-Functionalized Ce(4+)-Ion-Modified C-Dots: Peroxidase Mimicking Aptananozymes for the Oxidation of Dopamine and Cytotoxic Effects toward Cancer Cells

[Image: see text] Aptamer-functionalized Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots act as catalytic hybrid systems, aptananozymes, catalyzing the H(2)O(2) oxidation of dopamine. A series of aptananozymes functionalized with different configurations of the dopamine binding aptamer, DBA, are introduced. All aptananozymes reveal substantially enhanced catalytic activities as compared to the separated Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots and aptamer constituents, and structure–catalytic functions between the structure and binding modes of the aptamers linked to the C-dots are demonstrated. The enhanced catalytic functions of the aptananozymes are attributed to the aptamer-induced concentration of the reaction substrates in spatial proximity to the Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots catalytic sites. The oxidation processes driven by the Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots involve the formation of reactive oxygen species ((•)OH radicals). Accordingly, Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots with the AS1411 aptamer or MUC1 aptamer, recognizing specific biomarkers associated with cancer cells, are employed as targeted catalytic agents for chemodynamic treatment of cancer cells. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A epithelial breast cells, as control, with the AS1411 aptamer- or MUC1 aptamer-modified Ce(4+)-ion-modified C-dots reveals selective cytotoxicity toward the cancer cells. In vivo experiments reveal that the aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles inhibit MDA-MB-231 tumor growth.