Nucleic acid-based artificial nanocarriers for gene therapy.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Nucleic acid nanotechnology provides versatile tools for biosensing and nanomedicine.
• Artificial nucleic acid nanostructures are emerging as gene carriers with low cytotoxicity and immunogenicity.
• These nanostructures are crucial for advanced therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in the design and function of nucleic acid-based artificial nano-vectors.
• To focus on delivery systems for exogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) and antisense oligonucleotides.
• To explore strategies for enhanced targeting and delivery efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of various DNA nanocarriers (junctions, tetrahedrons, origami, hydrogels, scaffolds).
• Demonstration of enhanced targeting strategies for improved delivery.
• Overview of RNA-based gene nanocarrier systems (self-assembly, rolling circle transcription, chemical crosslinking, RNA motifs, DNA-RNA hybrids).

Main Results:

• Various DNA nanocarrier types are detailed, showcasing their structural diversity.
• Targeting strategies significantly improve the efficacy of nucleic acid delivery.
• RNA-based systems demonstrate potential as effective gene carriers through diverse assembly methods.

Conclusions:

• Nucleic acid-based artificial nanocarriers are promising tools for precise gene delivery.
• These nanocarriers offer a viable platform for gene therapy applications.
• Further research into challenges and outlooks will advance the field.