Nucleic Acid Architectures for Therapeutics, Diagnostics, Devices and Materials

• Main Author: Afonin, Kirill (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2019
• Subjects: Biology, life sciences; cotranscriptional folding; n/a; RNA; conditionally activated; i-motif DNA; spinal cord tumor; fluorescence; dynamic; stability; functional RNA; ribozyme; biological media; RNA aptamers; gene therapy; biosensors; viral vector; ganciclovir; RNA self-assembly; RNA nanoparticle; gene delivery; riboswitch; non-viral gene delivery; NANPs; silver nanoclusters; small-angle neutron scattering; contrast variation; aptamers; RNA logic; fluorogenic RNA; glioblastoma multiforme; RNA interference; nucleic acid nanoparticles; immunostimulation; aggregation; small-angle X-ray scattering; non-viral vector; light-up aptamer; nucleic acid therapeutic; live-cell imaging; DNA nanotechnology; nucleic acid computing; nanopores; structural characterization; siRNA; suicide gene therapy; nucleic acid nanoparticle; cytosine rich sequences; RNA nanotechnology; logic gates; serum; conditional activation
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) and their chemical analogs have been utilized as building materials due to their biocompatibility and programmability. RNA, which naturally possesses a wide range of different functions, is now being widely investigated for its role as a responsive biomaterial which dynamically reacts to changes in the surrounding environment. It is now evident that artificially designed self-assembling RNAs, that can form programmable nanoparticles and supra-assemblies, will play an increasingly important part in a diverse range of applications, such as macromolecular therapies, drug delivery systems, biosensing, tissue engineering, programmable scaffolds for material organization, logic gates, and soft actuators, to name but a few. The current exciting Special Issue comprises research highlights, short communications, research articles, and reviews that all bring together the leading scientists who are exploring a wide range of the fundamental properties of RNA and DNA nanoassemblies suitable for biomedical applications.