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RNA interference has garnered new hope for many difficult to treat diseases that have been “undruggable” using conventional small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has shown great strides in targeting difficult to treat diseases as siRNA therapeutics are able to efficiently silence specific genes throughout the body. This review highlights major barriers in siRNA delivery and how nanoparticles have been used to circumvent these barriers. The authors outline many of the recent promising preclinical successes in siRNA delivery using nanoparticles. Importantly, the review examines current FDA‐approved siRNA therapeutics and provides a comprehensive analysis of current siRNA candidates in clinical trials. Lastly, the authors discuss future challenges and opportunities in this expansive field of research.

Three fluorene-based alcohol-soluble organic small molecule electrolytes (SMEs) with different conjugated backbones, namely, TFTN-Br, FTFN-Br and FTTFN-Br, were designed as cathode interfacial layers for inverted polymer solar cells (i-PSCs). The insertion of SMEs to the ITO/active layer interfaces effectively lowered the energy barrier for electron transport and improved the inherent compatibility between the hydrophilic ITO and hydrophobic active layers. Due to these advantages, the device based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):(6,6)-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) with TFTN-Br as the cathode interfacial layer achieved an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.8%, which is a 26% improvement when compared to the standard device comprising ZnO cathode interfacial layers (PCE = 3.0%). Devices with FTFN-Br and FTTFN-Br also showed an improved PCE of 3.1% and 3.5%, respectively. The variation in device performance enhancement was found to be primarily correlated with the different conformation of their assembly onto the electrode caused by the joint sequence of the polar group of the SMEs, consequently impacting the dipole moment and interface morphology. In addition, introducing SMEs as the cathode interfacial layer also produced devices with long-term stability.

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