RNA nanostructures for targeted drug delivery and imaging.
RNA Biol
; 21(1): 1-19, 2024 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38555519
ABSTRACT
The RNA molecule plays a pivotal role in many biological processes by relaying genetic information, regulating gene expression, and serving as molecular machines and catalyzers. This inherent versatility of RNA has fueled significant advancements in the field of RNA nanotechnology, driving the engineering of complex nanoscale architectures toward biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery and bioimaging. RNA polymers, serving as building blocks, offer programmability and predictability of Watson-Crick base pairing, as well as non-canonical base pairing, for the construction of nanostructures with high precision and stoichiometry. Leveraging the ease of chemical modifications to protect the RNA from degradation, researchers have developed highly functional and biocompatible RNA architectures and integrated them into preclinical studies for the delivery of payloads and imaging agents. This review offers an educational introduction to the use of RNA as a biopolymer in the design of multifunctional nanostructures applied to targeted delivery in vivo, summarizing physical and biological barriers along with strategies to overcome them. Furthermore, we highlight the most recent progress in the development of both small and larger RNA nanostructures, with a particular focus on imaging reagents and targeted cancer therapeutics in pre-clinical models and provide insights into the prospects of this rapidly evolving field.
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Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Nanoestruturas
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Neoplasias
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
RNA Biol
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Dinamarca