Challenges and potential for RNA nanoparticles (RNPs).

ABSTRACT

The current research of our group focuses on delivery of oligonucleotides and gene vaccines targeted against infectious disease and cancer. Recently we reported a strategy for associating DNA to gold via protamine delivery enhancing material which here we suggest might be applicable to RNA and to other nanoparticles. An important new modality for such RNA based nanoparticles (RNPs) is the myriad of genes now known to undergo alternative splicing. Here we will review some important issues for the binding, stabilization and delivery of RNA, particularly splice-site switching oligomers (SSOs) via these RNPs in order to achieve selective molecular therapeutic effects and unlock their potential as chemotherapeutic agents.