Engineered RNA Nanodesigns for Applications in RNA Nanotechnology.

Abstract

Nucleic acids have emerged as an extremely promising platform for nanotechnological applications because of their unique biochemical properties and functions. RNA, in particular, is characterized by relatively high thermal stability, diverse structural flexibility, and its capacity to perform a variety of functions in nature. These properties make RNA a valuable platform for bio-nanotechnology, specifically RNA Nanotechnology, that can create de novo nanostructures with unique functionalities through the design, integration, and re-engineering of powerful mechanisms based on a variety of existing RNA structures and their fundamental biochemical properties. This review highlights the principles that underlie the rational design of RNA nanostructures, describes the main strategies used to construct self-assembling nanoparticles, and discusses the challenges and possibilities facing the application of RNA Nanotechnology in the future.