About this Research Topic
DNA nanostructures have recently emerged as an ideal nanocarrier for the delivery of different payloads by virtue of their excellent biocompatibility and unique structural features. They offer the possibility of efficient encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic payloads and their stimuli-responsive release upon demand. Reversible integration of targeting ligands onto the surface of DNA nanostructures is effortlessly attainable through sequence-specific DNA hybridization, and thereby provides the opportunity for targeted payload delivery. Most importantly, DNA nanostructures show excellent cell permeability and exhibit enhanced resistance toward enzymatic degradation. In recent years, the potential of DNA nanostructures for the targeted delivery of different payloads including anticancer drugs, small interfering RNA (siRNA), proteins, antibody, organic dyes, and nanoparticles (NPs), has become a topic of great interest.
DNA nanostructures are typically designed using a bottom-up strategy based on Watson-Crick DNA base pairing, which permits the creation of extremely complex 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures. Self-assembly of DNA amphiphiles is an alternative approach for the crafting of DNA nanostructures, and although both approaches have their own individual merits, straightforward synthesis and scalability are still major hurdles. This clearly suggests that development of simple yet efficient strategies for the creation of DNA nanostructures with excellent yield is extremely important. Furthermore, though some examples have demonstrated the potential of DNA nanostructures for the targeted delivery of different payloads, the full versatility of DNA nanostructures in this area is yet to be explored.
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover new strategies for the design of DNA nanostructures and to explore their use as nanocarriers for the targeted and predictable delivery of different payloads. Area to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Rational design of DNA nanostructures with tailored functionalities
• DNA nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery
• DNA nanostructures for the assembly of functional molecules
• DNA nanostructures for cancer therapy
• Stimuli-responsive DNA-based nanocarriers
DNA nanostructures are typically designed using a bottom-up strategy based on Watson-Crick DNA base pairing, which permits the creation of extremely complex 1D, 2D, and 3D nanostructures. Self-assembly of DNA amphiphiles is an alternative approach for the crafting of DNA nanostructures, and although both approaches have their own individual merits, straightforward synthesis and scalability are still major hurdles. This clearly suggests that development of simple yet efficient strategies for the creation of DNA nanostructures with excellent yield is extremely important. Furthermore, though some examples have demonstrated the potential of DNA nanostructures for the targeted delivery of different payloads, the full versatility of DNA nanostructures in this area is yet to be explored.
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover new strategies for the design of DNA nanostructures and to explore their use as nanocarriers for the targeted and predictable delivery of different payloads. Area to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Rational design of DNA nanostructures with tailored functionalities
• DNA nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery
• DNA nanostructures for the assembly of functional molecules
• DNA nanostructures for cancer therapy
• Stimuli-responsive DNA-based nanocarriers
Keywords: DNA nanostructures, supramolecular chemistry, targeted drug delivery, nanocarriers, cancer therapy
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