Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
09:06

MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method

Published on: October 7, 2025

523

Overcoming obstacles in microRNA delivery towards improved cancer therapy

Dikla Ben-Shushan1, Ela Markovsky, Hadas Gibori

  • 1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.

Drug Delivery and Translational Research
|March 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial in cancer development. This review explores challenges and nonviral nanocarrier systems for effective miRNA delivery in cancer therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs regulating biological processes.
  • Dysregulated miRNAs contribute to cancer development and progression.
  • Effective miRNA delivery is hindered by low cellular uptake, immunogenicity, and rapid clearance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the challenges in miRNA delivery for cancer therapy.
  • To discuss nonviral nanocarrier systems for enhancing miRNA delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on miRNA delivery systems.
  • Analysis of nonviral nanocarriers: lipid, polymeric, and inorganic.

Main Results:

  • Identified key obstacles in miRNA delivery: cellular uptake, endosomal escape, immunogenicity, and stability.
  • Highlighted the potential of nanocarriers to overcome these delivery barriers.

Conclusions:

  • Efficient miRNA delivery is essential for RNA interference-based cancer therapy.
  • Nonviral nanocarriers offer promising strategies for overcoming miRNA delivery challenges.

More Related Videos

Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases09:48

Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases

Published on: August 23, 2024

858
An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells09:45

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

9.1K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.3K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.8K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

12.1K
Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
1.4K
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
8.4K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.2K