SiO₂ nanoparticles as platform for delivery of 3'-triazole analogues of AZT-triphosphate into cells.

A system for delivery of analogues of AZT-triphosphates (AZT*TP) based on SiO₂ nanoparticles was proposed. For this purpose, a simple and versatile method was developed for the preparation of SiO₂∼dNTP conjugates using the 'click'-reaction between AZTTP and premodified nanoparticles containing the alkyne groups. The substrate properties of SiO₂∼AZT*TP were tested using Klenow fragment and HIV reverse transcriptase. The 3'-triazole derivatives of thymidine triphosphate being a part of the SiO₂∼AZT*TP nanocomposites were shown to be incorporated into the growing DNA chain. It was shown by confocal microscopy that the proposed SiO₂∼AZT*TP nanocomposites penetrate into cells. These nanocomposites were shown to inhibit the reproduction of POX and Herpes viruses at nontoxic concentrations.