DNA Nanocarriers: Programmed to Deliver

Simple base-pairing rules of complementarity, perfected by evolution for encoding genetic information, provide unprecedented control over the process of DNA self-assembly. These rules allow us to build exquisite nanostructures and rationally design their morphology, fine-tune their chemical properties, and program their response to environmental stimuli. DNA nanostructures have emerged as promising candidates for transporting drugs across various physiological barriers of the body. In this review, we discuss the strategies used to transform DNA nanostructures into drug delivery vehicles. We provide an overview of recent attempts at using them to deliver small molecule drugs and macromolecular cargoes and present the challenges that lay ahead for these synthetic vectors as they set new paradigms in the field of nanotechnology and medicine.