Multifunctional nanosystems: growing sanguinity in siRNA therapy

Abstract

Khan Farheen Badrealam, Mohammad Owais Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaThis letter is in regards to the enlightening work published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine on multifunctional nanosystems developed for surmounting the stumbling blocks of small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) therapeutics.1–4 These published studies make considerable advances toward realizing the great potential of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics. Despite the curability of the cause of diseases by rectifying altered functionalities of proteins, as of yet no technically viable and safe strategy has been established, owing to their various associated challenges.5 Albeit viral vectors are considered as the most promising strategy, mainly due to their high transduction efficiency and oligonucleotide packaging ability; however their widespread applicability has been marred due to various safety concerns.6 In this regard, nonviral vectors are very attractive, offering a safer alternative, but at a cost of lower transfection efficiency. However, with the advent of next generation nanoparticulate systems, multifunctional nanodelivery systems may bring newer hope to the RNAi therapeutic regimen.View original paper by Chen and colleagues.