RNA as a boiling-resistant anionic polymer material to build robust structures with defined shape and stoichiometry.
RNA is a polyribonucleic acid belonging to a special class of anionic polymers, holding a unique property of self-assembly that is controllable in the construction of structures with defined size, shape, and stoichiometry. We report here the use of RNA as polymers to fabricate boiling-resistant triangular nanoscaffolds, which were used to construct hexagons and patterned hexagonal arrays. The RNA triangular scaffolds demonstrated promising potential to construct fluorogenic probes and therapeutic agents as functionalization with siRNA, ribozyme, folate, and fluorogenic RNA aptamers revealed independent functional activity of each RNA moiety. The ribozyme was able to cleave hepatitis genomic RNA fragments, the siRNA silenced the target genes, and all fluorogenic RNA aptamers retained their fluorescence emission property. The creation of boiling-temperature-resistant RNA nanoparticles opens a new dimension of RNA as a special polymer, feasible in industrial and nanotechnological applications.
Nanobiotechnology Center, Markey Cancer Center, and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States.
Emil F
EF
Khisamutdinov
Daniel L
DL
Jasinski
Peixuan
P
Guo
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000838:Anions; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013816:Thermodynamics
D000838:Anions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012313:RNA; D006859:Hydrogen; D008156:Luciferases