title: RNA nanomedicines: the next generation drugs?
abstract: RNA therapeutics could represent the next generation personalized medicine. The variety of RNA molecules that can inhibit the expression of any mRNA using, for example, RNA interference (RNAi) strategies, or increase the expression of a given protein using modified mRNA together with new gene editing strategies open new avenues for manipulating the fate of diseased cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. In addition, these therapeutic RNA molecules can maximize the treatment of diseases and minimize its adverse effects. Yet, the promise of RNA therapeutics is hindered by the lack of efficient delivery strategies to selectively target these molecules into specific cells. Herein, we will focus on the challenges and opportunities of the delivery of therapeutic RNAi molecules into cancer cells with special emphasis on solid tumors. Solid tumors represent more than 80 percent of cancers and some are very challenging to treat, not merely due to physiological barriers but also since the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex milieu of accessory cells besides the cancerous cells. In this review, we will highlight various limiting factors to successful delivery, current clinical achievements and future outlook focusing on RNAi therapeutics to the TME.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of NanoMedicine, Department of Cell Research and Immunology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Manu Smriti
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of NanoMedicine, Department of Cell Research and Immunology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address: peer@tauex.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peer
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering