Abstract
In recent years, the main quest of science has been the pioneering of the groundbreaking biomedical strategies needed for achieving a personalized medicine. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are outstanding bioactive macromolecules identified as pivotal actors in regulating a wide range of biochemical pathways. The ability to intimately control the cell fate and tissue activities makes RNA‐based drugs the most fascinating family of bioactive agents. However, achieving a widespread application of RNA therapeutics in humans is still a challenging feat, due to both the instability of naked RNA and the presence of biological barriers aimed at hindering the entrance of RNA into cells. Recently, material scientists’ enormous efforts have led to the development of various classes of nanostructured carriers customized to overcome these limitations. This work systematically reviews the current advances in developing the next generation of drugs based on nanotechnology‐assisted RNA delivery. The features of the most used RNA molecules are presented, together with the development strategies and properties of nanostructured vehicles. Also provided is an in‐depth overview of various therapeutic applications of the presented systems, including coronavirus disease vaccines and the newest trends in the field. Lastly, emerging challenges and future perspectives for nanotechnology‐mediated RNA therapies are discussed.
Highlights
During the course of human history, the evolution of diseases has brought about a constantly rising demand for novel effective medical treatments
We present the essential features of the key Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) families, focusing on messenger RNA, small interfering RNA, micro RNA, and short hairpin RNA
The results demonstrated that wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-NPs had no protective effect against ischemic brain damages; micro RNA (miRNA) delivered alone was degraded and/or cleared by nasal cilia; WGA-NPs-miR132 proved to be effective in reducing the area of cerebral infarction, the number of microglia, and the number of apoptotic cells after cerebral hemorrhage
Summary
During the course of human history, the evolution of diseases has brought about a constantly rising demand for novel effective medical treatments. A new class of bioactive molecules, called biological drugs, has achieved an increasingly important role in fighting human body diseases.[5] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defined biological drugs as large, complex molecules derived from living cells or biological processes which are used to diagnose, prevent, treat, and cure a broad spectrum of diseases and medical conditions.[6] Biologics comprise a wide range of substances, including carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and elaborated composites of these substances.[7] Unlike small molecules, biological drugs have sophisticated structures, from a few hundred to more than one thousand times larger than the classic marketed agents They boast exceptional therapeutic properties, with an excellent and unique specificity for targeting a precise biological process. This review will provide a comprehensive panorama of RNA-based therapies; most importantly, it will inspire and offer guidance for developing nextgeneration biomedical treatments that combine the unique properties of RNA molecules and nanostructured materials
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