Biosensors & Bioelectronics

Nano-materials for Gene Therapy: An Efficient Way in Overcoming Challenges of Gene Delivery

Abstract

Salam Massadeh*, Manal Al-Aamery, Shahad Bawazeer, Othman AlAhmad, Rawan AlSubai, Suzan Barker and Duncan Craig

RNA interference (RNAi) is one of the most exciting and revolutionary new approaches to therapies that have attracted considerable amount of attention within the last few decades. Interfering RNAs (iRNA) are a major biological macromolecules that regulate specific gene sequencing, silencing and down regulating. Non coding RNA may lead to the development of a new range of potentially thousands of therapeutics. If efficiently used, iRNA is considered as a potent therapeutic agent for different disease types including viral diseases and cancer. However, the major obstacle that stands in the way of realization of such therapies is the in vivo delivery of RNAi fragments, like small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The optimal approach to deliver si RNAs would be one to guarantee targeted delivery and high stability, a method that can protect the delivered material from undesirable immune response. In this review, we will shed the light on the use of biocompatible nanoparticlesas safe delivery vehicles of genetic material.