Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42230544›Full record

ArticleSignal transduction and targeted therapy2026

Intracellular logic computing with DNA tetrahedron processors enables precision cancer theranostics.

Yang Gao, Yun Wang, Yunlong Qin, Geru Zhang, Shaojingya Gao, Wen Chen, Siyi Yang, Xiao Yang, Yuanlin Tang, Yao He and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yang Gao *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4723-4416
Yun Wang *State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yunlong Qin *Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Geru ZhangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Shaojingya GaoState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Wen ChenState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Siyi YangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiao YangMental Health Center, National Center for Mental Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yuanlin TangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yao HeMacao Translational Medicine Center, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR, China.
Yunfeng LinState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1224-6561
Itamar WillnerInstitute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel. itamar.willner@mail.huji.ac.il.
Taoran TianState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Taoran.tian@scu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8048-0328
Xiaoxiao CaiState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. xcai@scu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5654-7414

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82501232
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The integration of molecular computation with nanomedicine holds transformative potential for precision cancer theranostics. However, achieving an intelligent, multi-input decision-making process within living cells remains a formidable challenge because of the complexity of intracellular signaling networks. Here, we present a set of DNA tetrahedron logic processors that enable smart intracellular computing through a programmable three-input architecture capable of executing seven Boolean operations-OR, AND, NOR, NAND, XOR, majority (MAJ), and OR-AND-in response to endogenous miRNA signals. Building upon the cell-internalizable tetrahedral framework nucleic acid, this processor functions as an autonomous sense-and-treat module: it decodes combinatorial biomarker states and conditionally releases therapeutic siRNA only when a predefined logical condition is met. As a proof of concept, in precision oncology, we engineered a MAJ-gated nanoplatform (siR@MAJ) that selectively silences survivin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells that exhibit a specific tri-miRNA signature while sparing other cell types. This approach has achieved potent tumor suppression both in vitro and in vivo with high specificity and minimal off-target effects. By integrating multi-target detection into a single logic circuit, this processor significantly improves the discriminative capability within complex biological environments. Our work establishes a foundational platform for intelligent intracellular diagnostics and therapy, paving the way toward adaptive, logic-driven nanomedicine.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsComputers, MolecularDNAPrecision MedicineRNA, Small InterferingSurvivinTheranostic NanomedicineAnimalsDNA NanostructuresFemaleHumansMCF-7 CellsMiceMicroRNAsBIRC5 protein, humanDNAMicroRNAsRNA, Small InterferingSurvivin

Identifiers

PMID42230544
PMCPMC13230932

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.