<p>Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in cancer therapy: a nano-based approach</p>

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most complex diseases that has resulted in multiple genetic disorders and cellular abnormalities. Globally, cancer is the most common health concern disease that is affecting human beings. Great efforts have been made over the past decades in biology with the aim of searching novel and more efficient tools in therapy. Thus, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been considered one of the most noteworthy developments which are able to regulate gene expression following a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a post-transcriptional mechanism that involves the inhibition of gene expression through promoting cleavage on a specific area of a target messenger RNA (mRNA). This technology has shown promising therapeutic results for a good number of diseases, especially in cancer. However, siRNA therapeutics have to face important drawbacks in therapy including stability and successful siRNA delivery in vivo. In this regard, the development of effective siRNA delivery systems has helped addressing these issues by opening novel therapeutic windows which have allowed to build up important advances in Nanomedicine. In this review, we discuss the progress of siRNA therapy as well as its medical application via nanoparticle-mediated delivery for cancer treatment.

Antisense Oligonucleotides: An Emerging Area in Drug Discovery and Development

“…Several lipid-based delivery systems, lipoplexes, liposomes, and lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have been extensively used to deliver ASOs and siRNAs [ 77 , 78 ]. LNPs are typically coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG), which increases blood circulation time [ 79 ].…”

Nanoparticulate RNA delivery systems in cancer

“…The ability of NP to therapeutic agents, like siRNA or shRNA for the treatment of genetic disease, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, and Alzheimer's disease makes them a potent tool for gene therapy 22‐24 . Their ability to mimic biological membranes and evade the immune system makes them ideal vehicles for drug delivery.…”

The p53 family reaches the final frontier: the variegated regulation of the dark matter of the genome by the p53 family in cancer

“…In addition to these pharmacological approaches affecting global ncRNA biogenesis, several strategies have been designed to target specific ncRNAs via complementary base-pairing recognition, as provided by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) [ 174 ], miRNA inhibitors [ 175 ], and siRNAs [ 176 ]. To guarantee their stability and delivery, these molecules are chemically modified (e.g.…”