Carbon-Based Nanostructures as Emerging Materials for Gene Delivery Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Gene Therapy

Background:

• Gene therapeutics offer targeted disease treatment at the genetic level.
• Nanomaterials are emerging as non-viral vectors for efficient gene delivery.
• Current non-viral vectors face challenges with low gene delivery efficiency and toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review carbon-based nanostructures (CBNs) as vectors for gene delivery.
• To explore synthesis methods, properties, and applications of CBNs.
• To identify opportunities and challenges in CBN-mediated gene delivery.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on carbon-based nanostructures for gene delivery.
• Analysis of synthesis, properties, and applications of CBNs.
• Discussion of extracellular and intracellular barriers in gene delivery.

Main Results:

• Specific nanostructures like CNTs, CQDs, and NDs can carry various genetic materials (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides).
• CBNs offer advantageous properties like high surface-to-volume ratio and facile functionalization.
• Advancements in CBNs are essential to address toxicity and improve transfection efficiency.

Conclusions:

• CBNs are promising non-viral vectors for gene and drug delivery.
• Further research into CBNs is needed to overcome current limitations in gene delivery.
• CBNs hold significant potential for future therapeutic applications.