Progress in Biomedical Applications of Functionalized Nucleic Acid Nanodevices (NANDs)

Abstract

DNA and RNA are building blocks with excellent programmability for nanoscale assembly.O wing to their appealing properties such as precision in bottom-up fabrication, enhanced stabilitya nd cellular internalization, designed nucleic acid nanodevices( NANDs) have been widely explored in biomedical research. Compared with pristine nucleic acids, chemically modifiedN ANDs exhibit aw ider spectrum of applicability.I nt his Focus Review, we highlight recent advances of NANDs functionalized with small molecules, peptides/proteins or inorganic materials, and elucidate their promisingf uture for biomedical application.

Effect of Confinement in Nanopores on RNA Interactions with Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

“…Nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) research has revolutionized the biomedical applications and opened new possibilities for treatments for numerous recalcitrant diseases. − Delivery of oligonucleotides of DNA to targeted intracellular sites (especially cell nuclei) is extremely important for gene therapy and associated technologies involving genetic interference. − Similarly, RNA-based therapy that includes regulation of gene expressions involves delivery of RNA to the vicinity of cell nuclei. − A prominent type of RNA delivered for RNA-based treatments is small interfering (si) RNA, which is notable for its gene silencing or knockdown capability. siRNA is small double-stranded RNA [dsRNA, 20–25 base pair (bp)], delivered to cells for targeted silencing of genes [called RNA interference (RNAi)] responsible for varieties of hereditary and transmittable diseases, as well as cancer. , RNAi technology is also developing for bio-based management of agricultural pests, where specific insect genes responsible for vitality and mortality can be suppressed and/or switched on, respectively, by delivering respective larger dsRNA sequences (up to 1000 bp) .…”

Self‐Assembly of DNA Nanostructures Using Three‐Way Junctions on Small Circular DNAs

“…DNA molecules are functional materials for storing genetic information in nature with Watson–Crick base‐pairing interactions. In the field of DNA nanotechnology, nucleic acids are used as biopolymer engineering materials for nanotechnology rather than as the carriers of genetic information in living cells . Researchers in the field have created immobile structures such as one‐, two‐, and three‐dimensional (1D, 2D, 3D) single crystalline lattices, including nanotubes, polyhedra, arbitrary shapes, and dynamic devices such as molecular machines and DNA computers .…”

“…In the field of DNA nanotechnology,n ucleic acids are used as biopolymer engineering materials forn anotechnology rather than as the carriers of genetic information in living cells. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Researchers in the field have createdi mmobile structures such as one-, two-, and three-dimensional (1D, 2D, 3D) single crystalline lattices, including nanotubes, polyhedra,a rbitrary shapes,a nd dynamic devices such as molecular machines and DNA computers. [15][16][17][18][19][20] Among DNA operations in nature, DNA looping, causingt wisting, bending, torsion, curving, kinking, stressing,a nd disruptiono fD NA molecules, has very important physiological functions, such as regulating transcrip-tion or facilitating protein-DNA assembly during replication, recombination,c ondensation, etc.…”