ABSTRACT
RNA nanotechnology takes advantage of functional RNA structures, both natural and artificial, to form useful nanoarchitectures and engineered materials (Guo 2005; Guo 2010). The methods to control these useful nanostructures are rapidly growing, and RNA provides both a naturally biofunctional material and an easily tunable building block (Jaeger, Westhof et al. 2001; Chworos, Severcan et al. 2004; Guo 2005; Nasalean, Baudrey et al. 2006; Guo 2010). The ability to alter RNA composition has enabled advances in RNA nanotechnology. These RNA alterations can range from sequence variations (residue mutation) to single-atomic substitutions and site-specific incorporation of useful labels or reactive groups that can be used for subsequent conjugation (Paredes, Evans et al. 2011; Phelps, Morris et al. 2012). Such modifications can be introduced into RNA that has been obtained through chemical methods, generated in vitro or recovered from cells.
