ABSTRACT
RNA nanotechnology is conceptualized as the bottom-up self-assembly of nanometer-scale RNA architectures. Two major approaches have been used for the construction of RNA nanoparticles. The first approach is the sequence-dependent self-folding of RNA nanoarchitectures that is based on computational algorithms and prediction of secondary or tertiary structures. Another approach employs the natural RNA motifs as core building blocks to assemble RNA nanoparticles. The RNA nanoparticles are assembled spontaneously using highly programmable and predictable building blocks in a pre-defined manner that is very different from traditional routes, which is normally formed by covalent polymerization and hydrophobic interactions. The homogeneous RNA nanoparticle assembly with defined size, shape, and stoichiometry necessitates the purification to acquire clinically used RNA nanoparticles.
