Coupling Aptamers to Short Interfering RNAs as Therapeutics.

ABSTRACT: RNA-based approaches are among the most promising strategies aimed at developing safer and more effective therapeutics. RNA therapeutics include small non-coding miRNAs, small interfering RNA, RNA aptamers and more recently, small activating RNAs. However, major barriers exist to the use of RNAs as therapeutics such as resistance to nucleases present in biological fluids, poor chemical stability, need of specific cell targeted delivery and easy entry into the cell. Such issues have been addressed by several recent reports that show the possibility of introducing chemical modifications in small RNAs to stabilize the molecular conformation and increase by several fold their integrity, while still preserving the functional activity. Further, several aptamers have been developed as excellent c

SUBMITTER: Cerchia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4060133 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature