Realizing the promise of RNA nanotechnology for new drug development

Peixuan Guo and colleagues, University of Kentucky, Lexington, highlight the ability of RNA to self-assemble into nanoparticles with diverse structures. In "Uniqueness, Advantages, Challenges, Solutions, and Perspectives in Therapeutics Applying RNA Nanotechnology," the authors provide a detailed description of the main challenges faced by the RNA therapeutics industry, including the chemical and thermodynamic instability of the molecules, potential safety and side effect issues, difficulties in delivery and specific targeting, and low yield and high production costs in manufacturing.

"The remarkable structural and enzymatic properties of RNA continue to astound us," says Executive Editor Fintan Steele, PhD, SomaLogic, Inc., Boulder, CO. "It is exciting to see those properties increasingly realized for the benefit of human health and welfare, as described by Dr. Guo and his colleagues."

Nucleic Acid Therapeutics is under the editorial leadership of Co-Editors-in-Chief Bruce A. Sullenger, PhD, Duke Translational Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, and C.A. Stein, MD, PhD, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA; and Executive Editor Fintan Steele, PhD, SomaLogic, Boulder, CO.