Controllable Self-Assembly Of Nanoparticles For Specific Delivery Of Multiple Therapeutic Molecules To Cancer Cells Using Rna Nanotechnology

By utilizing RNA nanotechnology, we engineered both therapeutic siRNA and a receptor-binding RNA aptamer into individual pRNAs of phi29\u27s motor. The RNA building block harboring siRNA or other therapeutic molecules was fabricated subsequently into a trimer through the interaction of engineered right and left interlocking RNA loops. The incubation of the protein-free nanoscale particles containing the receptor-binding aptamer or other ligands resulted in the binding and co-entry of the trivalent therapeutic particles into cells, subsequently modulating the apoptosis of cancer cells and leukemia model lymphocytes in cell culture and animal trials. The use of such antigenicity-free 20-40 nm particles holds promise for the repeated long-term treatment of chronic diseases. © 2005 American Chemical Society