Programmable DNA Nanocages Enhance Levodopa Delivery for Neuroprotection in a Zebrafish Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinsons Disease (PD) is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, often characterized by neural motor dysfunction, oxidative stress, and dopamine receptor malfunction leading to improper dopamine levels in the system. DNA tetrahedron nanostructures are a promising drug delivery agent due to their biocompatibility and properties of controlled and sustained release. In this study we evaluated the potential of using TD-mediated Levodopa delivery for a MPTP induced Parkinsons Disease model in Zebrafish larvae. The induction of Parkinsonism led to morphological behaviour changes like the presence of tremors, erratic swimming behaviour, latency, and reduced locomotor activity, even elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis was observed. These effects and symptoms were alleviated when the larvae were treated using TD:Levodopa conjugates, particularly at the 1:100 ratio. At the molecular level, genes like TH, DAT, SOX2, PARKIN and apoptotic genes like BCL2 and caspases showed alteration in expression in the Parkinsonism model and post treatment was induced. This highlights the potential of using DNA nanocages as a novel drug delivery agent as therapeutic strategy for Parkinsons disease. TOCDopamine loaded DNA nanocages with the capacity to overcome biological barriers for release of dopamine with neuroprotection activity in Parkinsons disease model of zebrafish. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=193 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/742731v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (51K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@40d78forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@107f59forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18ea275org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14bc089_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG