Construction of nanocarriers based on nucleic acids and their applications in nanobiology delivery systems

Yingshu Guo; Xiuping Cao; Xiaofei Zheng; S K Jahir Abbas; Juan Li; Weihong Tan

doi:10.1093/nsr/nwac006

Construction of nanocarriers based on nucleic acids and their applications in nanobiology delivery systems

Natl Sci Rev. 2022 Jan 17;9(5):nwac006. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwac006. eCollection 2022 May.

Authors

Yingshu Guo¹, Xiuping Cao², Xiaofei Zheng², S K Jahir Abbas³, Juan Li⁴, Weihong Tan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China.
² School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi276005, China.
³ Institute of Molecular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200240, China.
⁴ Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou310022, China.

Abstract

In recent years, nanocarriers based on nucleic acids have emerged as powerful and novel nanocarriers that are able to meet the demand for cancer-cell-specific targeting. Functional dynamics analysis revealed good biocompatibility, low toxicity and programmable structures, and their advantages include controllable size and modifiability. The development of novel hybrids has focused on the distinct roles of biosensing, drug and gene delivery, vaccine transport, photosensitization, counteracting drug resistance and functioning as carriers and logic gates. This review is divided into three parts: (i) DNA nanocarriers, (ii) RNA nanocarriers and (iii) DNA/RNA hybrid nanocarriers and their applications in nanobiology delivery systems. We also provide perspectives on possible future directions for growth in this field.

Keywords: biosensing; cell; nanocarriers based on nucleic acids; targeted delivery.