Nanomaterials for Therapeutic RNA Delivery

Recent years have witnessed tremendous developments and break-throughs in the field of RNA-based therapeutics. The distinct mechanisms of exogenous RNAs and analogs, including messenger RNAs, small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, and antisense oligonucleotides, have brought them unprecedented potential to treat a variety of pathological conditions. However, the widespread application of RNA therapeutics is hampered by their intrinsic features (e.g., instability, large size, and dense negative charge) and formidable host barriers. Development of safe and efficient vectors is key for successful delivery and translation of RNA therapeutics. In this review, we first present an overview of RNA therapeutics and their clinical translation. We then discuss their delivery challenges and highlight recent advances in nanomaterial-based RNA-delivery platforms. Finally, the potential concerns and future developments of RNA delivery systems are discussed.