The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN): The Present and Future of the Burgeoning Field

Abstract

The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN) hosts an annual meeting series focused on presenting the latest research achievements involving RNA-based therapeutics and strategies, aiming to expand their current biomedical applications while overcoming the remaining challenges of the burgeoning field of RNA nanotechnology. The most recent online meeting hosted a series of engaging talks and discussions from an international cohort of leading nanotechnologists that focused on RNA modifications and modulation, dynamic RNA structures, overcoming delivery limitations using a variety of innovative platforms and approaches, and addressing the newly explored potential for immunomodulation with programmable nucleic acid nanoparticles. In this Nano Focus, we summarize the main discussion points, conclusions, and future directions identified during this two-day webinar as well as more recent advances to highlight and to accelerate this exciting field.

Artificial Immune Cell, AI‐cell, a New Tool to Predict Interferon Production by Peripheral Blood Monocytes in Response to Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles

“…Each NANP assembly followed previously published respective steps. [2][3][4][5] Assessment of Immunostimulation in Human PBMCs: Research Donor Blood was obtained under the Institutional Review Boar-approved NCI-Frederick protocol OH99CN046. Each donor was assigned a random number.…”

“…Therapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) have enriched and diversified the landscape of nanomedicine, [ 1 ] and their clinical success brought about the development of a new biomolecular platform, based on nucleic acid nanoparticles, called NANPs. [ 2–3 ] NANP technologies aim to advance the programmability of TNAs, tune their physicochemical and biological properties, and optimize their formulation, storage, and handling processes. The bottom‐up assembly of NANPs takes advantage of nucleic acids’ folding pathways along with several computational tools available for precise coordination of sequence design and an expanded repertoire of structural and interacting motifs.…”

Therapeutic immunomodulation by rationally designed nucleic acids and nucleic acid nanoparticles

“…Differences in dimensionality (1D, 2D, and 3D), composition (DNA or RNA), and connectivity (intramolecular, intermolecular, or both) evoke varying immune responses and enable NANPs to be customized based on the intended therapeutic effect ( 107 ). The field of therapeutic nucleic acids continues to advance and holds the promise of the development of versatile new means to manipulate host cell machinery to achieve a desired therapeutic effect in the absence of detrimental recipient responses ( 120 , 121 ).…”

Biomotors, viral assembly, and RNA nanobiotechnology: Current achievements and future directions

“…This massive research effort is inspired by the immense potential that RNA offers to basic research and in clinical settings. RNA is a natural biopolymer that is highly integrated in a plethora of mechanisms essential for life and thus, understanding RNA’s folding, structure, and functions would allow for the rational design of RNA-based therapies and nanodevices suitable for biomedicines [1] , [2] . As the translational aspects of the field have advanced, there have been new RNA therapies approved for clinical use [3] , most notably-two SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines that were rapidly developed and introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”