Application and prospects of nucleic acid nanomaterials in tumor therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cancer remains a significant global health threat, with current treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy exhibiting considerable side effects and limitations.
• Nucleic acid nanomaterials, including DNA and RNA nanostructures, are emerging as advanced platforms for biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery and cancer therapy.
• Existing nanostructures like DNA origami, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids, and dynamic DNA nanostructures have shown remarkable potential in preclinical cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of nucleic acid nanotechnology.
• To summarize the current applications of DNA and RNA nanostructures in tumor treatment.
• To discuss future development opportunities for nucleic acid nanomaterials in oncology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on nucleic acid nanotechnology and its applications in cancer therapy.
• Synthesis and characterization of various DNA nanostructures (e.g., DNA origami, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids, dynamic DNA nanostructures).
• Exploration of RNA nanostructures for gene therapy applications.

Main Results:

• DNA nanostructures have demonstrated significant potential as drug delivery vehicles and therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.
• RNA nanostructures are increasingly recognized for their crucial role in gene therapy strategies.
• Nucleic acid nanomaterials offer precise spatial control for targeted drug delivery, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing off-target effects.

Conclusions:

• Nucleic acid nanotechnology represents a rapidly advancing field with substantial promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment.
• The versatility of DNA and RNA nanostructures provides a strong foundation for developing next-generation cancer therapeutics and diagnostic tools.
• Continued research into nucleic acid nanomaterials is expected to yield innovative solutions for overcoming the challenges in current cancer care.