Targeted delivery by an RNA double

Targeted mRNA degradation by double-stranded RNA in vitro.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) directs gene-specific, post-transcriptional silencing in many organisms, including vertebrates, and has provided a new tool for studying gene function. The biochemical mechanisms underlying this dsRNA interference (RNAi) are unknown. Here we report the development of a cell-free system from syncytial blastoderm Drosophila embryos that recapitulates many of the featur...

Advances in Targeted Drug Delivery

Enhancement of RNA Interference Effect in P19 EC Cells by an RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase

Background: RNA interference (RNAi) is a phenomenon uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to specifically inhibit gene expression. The non-specific silencing caused by interferon response to dsRNA in mammalian cells limits the potential of utilizing RNAi to study gene function. Duplexes of 21-nucleotide short interfering dsRNA (siRNA) inhibit gene expression by RNAi. In some organisms, siRNA can als...

Advances in Targeted Drug Delivery

RNA nanotechnology breakthrough for targeted release of RNA-based drugs using cell-based aptamers

Nucleic acids play different roles besides storing information and proteins coding. For example, single-stranded nucleic acids can fold into complicated structures with capability of molecular detection, catalyzing bioreactions and therapy. The development of RNA-based therapies has been rapidly progressed in the recent years. RNA aptamers are biomolecules with a size of 10 to 50 nm that can be...