Selective targeting and degradation of doxorubicin-loaded folate-functionalized DNA nanocages

Folate-functionalized octahedral DNA nanocages, loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) (Dox-loaded cage), deliver the drug selectively to cancer cells expressing the α isoform of the folate receptor (αFR). Dox, released from loaded DNA cages inside cells, induces a cytotoxic effect higher than free Dox administered at the same concentration and leads to intracellular DNA nanocage degradation, avoiding the problem of nanocarrier accumulation in vivo.147