Uniqueness, advantages, challenges, solutions, and perspectives in therapeutics applying RNA nanotechnology.
The field of RNA nanotechnology is rapidly emerging. RNA can be manipulated with the simplicity characteristic of DNA to produce nanoparticles with a diversity of quaternary structures by self-assembly. Additionally RNA is tremendously versatile in its function and some RNA molecules display catalytic activities much like proteins. Thus, RNA has the advantage of both worlds. However, the instability of RNA has made many scientists flinch away from RNA nanotechnology. Other concerns that have deterred the progress of RNA therapeutics include the induction of interferons, stimulation of cytokines, and activation of other immune systems, as well as short pharmacokinetic profiles in vivo. This review will provide some solutions and perspectives on the chemical and thermodynamic stability, in vivo half-life and biodistribution, yield and production cost, in vivo toxicity and side effect, specific delivery and targeting, as well as endosomal trapping and escape.
Nanobiotechnology Center, Markey Cancer Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, USA. guop@purdue.edu
Peixuan
P
Guo
Farzin
F
Haque
Brent
B
Hallahan
Randall
R
Reif
Hui
H
Li
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004337:Drug Carriers; D012313:RNA