The emerging field of RNA nanotechnology

Abstract

RNA can be designed and manipulated just like DNA while having different rules for base-pairing and displaying functions similar to proteins. The large variety of loops and motifs in RNA allow them to fold into numerous complicated structures. This diversity provides a platform for identifying viable building blocks for particle assemblies, substrate binding and manufacture engineering. RNA thermal stability allows production of multivalent nanostructures with defined stoichiometry. Here we review the unique qualities of RNA nanotechnology and their distinct properties inside the body. We describe techniques for constructing RNA nanoparticles from different building blocks and their applications in nanomedicine. Finally, we discuss challenges in predicting and synthesizing RNA and offer some perspectives on the yield and cost of RNA production.

Double-stranded RNA under force and torque: Similarities to and striking differences from double-stranded DNA

“…In many of these contexts, structures rich in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) helices encounter mechanical strains; examples include the packaging of dsRNA viral genomes into capsids, deformations of the ribosome during translation (1,2), and more generally conformational changes of functional RNAs while folding or due to interactions with proteins (3,4). In addition, RNA is emerging as a material for engineered nanostructures both in vitro (5) and in vivo (6). A quantitative understanding of these processes requires accurate knowledge of the elastic properties and conformational transitions of RNA under forces and torques.…”

De novo design of an RNA tile that self-assembles into a homo-octameric nanoprism

“…They promise many technological applications, such as drug delivery 5,6 and arranging chemical reactions to produce useful chemicals 7 . Many exciting works have been reported recently along this line 8,9 . Often, natural RNA building blocks (also called as tiles or tectoRNAs) have been modified for such purposes [10][11][12][13][14] .…”

Recent Developments in Nanomedicine Research

“…A new study led by University of Kentucky researchers [23] suggests a new approach to developing highly-potent drugs which could overcome current shortcomings of low drug efficacy and multi-drug resistance in the treatment of cancer as well as viral and bacterial infections. Inhibiting multi-subunit targets works similar to the series-circuit Christmas ecorating light chains: one broken bulb turns off the entire lighting system.…”