Nanovehicle-based Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Delivery for Therapeutic Purposes: A New Molecular Approach in Pharmacogenomics

Abstract

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) is a process for regulating the gene expression in which small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) silence target genes. siRNA-based therapy as a new molecular treatment approach, offers therapeutic prospects for many common diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Nevertheless, the efficacy of siRNA delivery has, so far, remained a challenging issue. This is due to their easy degradation through the circulation system and the difficulties in the intracellular delivery to specific tissues where they silence the target genes. There have been many efforts to develop suitable, safe and effective siRNA delivery systems in the past decades. These efforts specifically aimed to protect siRNA from serum nucleases and deliver it to an intracellular region in the desired target cells. In this context, one of the new and popular approaches is nanovehicle-mediated siRNA delivery systems.

Objective: Here, the authors reviewed and highlighted the recent advances in this exciting and fast growing field to help in the development of effective therapeutic tools in controlling human diseases.

Methods: A literature search was conducted from electronic databases such as Pubmed and Google scholar including original articles and review articles.

Conclusion: siRNA delivery systems potentially may be used in future medicine, particularly for untreatable or poorly treated diseases. As we learn more about these delivery systems, we can better use the tremendous opportunities provided by siRNA-based therapeutics. The results of ongoing clinical trials will play an important role in determining whether siRNA-based drugs can be considered as a new class of drugs.

Keywords: RNA interference; Small interfering RNA; drug delivery system; nanotechnology; pharmacogenomics; siRNA..