title: Controllable self-assembly of RNA dendrimers.
abstract: We report programmable self-assembly of branched, 3D globular, monodisperse and nanoscale sized dendrimers using RNA as building blocks. The central core and repeating units of the RNA dendrimer are derivatives of the ultrastable three-way junction (3WJ) motif from the bacteriophage phi29 motor pRNA. RNA dendrimers were constructed by step-wise self-assembly of modular 3WJ building blocks initiating with a single 3WJ core (Generation-0) with overhanging sticky end and proceeding in a radial manner in layers up to Generation-4. The final constructs were generated under control without any structural defects in high yield and purity, as demonstrated by gel electrophoresis and AFM imaging. Upon incorporation of folate on the peripheral branches of the RNA dendrimers, the resulting constructs showed high binding and internalization into cancer cells. RNA dendrimers are envisioned to have a major impact in targeting, disease therapy, molecular diagnostics and bioelectronics in the near future.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Dendrimers are gaining importance as a carrier platform for diagnosis and therapeutics. The authors here reported building of their dendrimer molecules using RNA as building blocks. The addition of folate also allowed recognition and subsequent binding to tumor cells. This new construct may prove to be useful in many clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine/Department of Physiology & Cell Biology/Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Nanobiotechnology Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine/Department of Physiology & Cell Biology/Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Nanobiotechnology Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: haque.50@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine/Department of Physiology & Cell Biology/Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Nanobiotechnology Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Fengmei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Lyudmila S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Shlyakhtenko
authors.affiliation: Nanobiotechnology Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: B Mark
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine/Department of Physiology & Cell Biology/Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Nanobiotechnology Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. Electronic address: guo.1091@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Peixuan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000737:chemistry*; D001483:Base Sequence; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D012367:RNA, Viral; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: RNA nanoparticle; RNA nanotechnology; Three-way junction; pRNA