# US 2025/0093360 A1 · Dna based sensors

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- Number: US 2025/0093360 A1
- Document ID: US20250093360A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/775,495
- Filed: 2024-07-17
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2023-09-18
- Assignees: George Mason University
- Applicants: George Mason University
- Inventors: Remi Veneziano; Parag V. Chitnis; Giovanni Giammanco; John R. Cressman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250093360A1

## CPC

- G01N 33/587: {Nanoparticles}
- G01N 21/6428: {Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53)}
- G01N 21/6456: {Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging}
- G01N 2021/6439: {with indicators, stains, dyes, tags, labels, marks}
- G01N 2458/30: Electrochemically active labels
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Provided is a nanoparticle comprising: a DNA scaffold comprising an attached dye, an attached functional moiety, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the DNA scaffold comprises a plurality of DNA oligonucleotides, wherein each oligonucleotide is independently optionally attached to a dye and/or a functional moiety. Provided is a method of cell voltage sensing at a target site comprising providing the nanoparticle of any one of the preceding embodiments at the target site; and monitoring cell voltage at the target site. Also provided is a method of fluorescence or absorbance imaging at a target site comprising providing the nanoparticle of any one of the preceding embodiments at the target site; and monitoring fluorescence or absorbance at the target site.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nanoparticle comprising:
a DNA scaffold comprising an attached dye, an attached functional moiety, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the DNA scaffold comprises a plurality of DNA oligonucleotides, wherein each oligonucleotide is independently optionally attached to a dye and/or a functional moiety.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The nanoparticle of claim 2, wherein the DNA scaffold comprises one or more oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 to 63.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the DNA scaffold comprises one or more arms.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the dye is a cyanine dye.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of indocyanine green (ICG), ICG-Xtra-OSu, IGC-Osu, IGC-Sulfo-Osu, IGC-PEG12-Osu, ICG-NHS, ICG-NH2, pseudoisocyanine, merocyanine, fluorescein, TAMRA, bis(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)squaraine, tetrtakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphyrin, antimony(III)-phthalocyanine, copper phthalocyanine, perylene bismide, hypericin, subphtalocyanine, heptamethyne cyanine, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the functional moiety is selected from the group consisting of a steroid, a cell-penetrating peptide, a targeting peptide, an antibody, or a small molecule.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the dye is attached to the oligonucleotide directly or via a linker.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the functional moiety is attached to the oligonucleotide directly or via a linker.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The nanoparticle of claim 9, wherein the linker comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG) group.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein orientation of any attached dyes and/or functional moieties is designed.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The nanoparticle of claim 11, wherein any attached dyes and/or functional moieties face the same direction on the oligonucleotide.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle may be used as a sensor for bioelectric activity.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle may be used as a photoacoustic probe.

### Claim 15

A nanoparticle produced by a process comprising mixing a plurality of DNA oligonucleotides to assemble a DNA scaffold, wherein each oligonucleotide is optionally attached to a dye and/or a functional moiety.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The nanoparticle of claim 15, wherein orientation of any attached dyes and/or functional moieties is designed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A method of cell voltage sensing at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 1 at the target site; and
monitoring cell voltage at the target site.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

A method of cell voltage sensing at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 15 at the target site; and
monitoring cell voltage at the target site.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A method of fluorescence imaging at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 1 at the target site; and
monitoring fluorescence at the target site.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

A method of fluorescence imaging at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 15 at the target site; and
monitoring fluorescence at the target site.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A method of absorbance or photoacoustic imaging at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 1 at the target site; and
monitoring absorbance or photoacoustic signal at the target site.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

A method of absorbance or photoacoustic imaging at a target site comprising
providing the nanoparticle of claim 15 at the target site; and
monitoring absorbance or photoacoustic signal at the target site.