Emergence of Nanoscale Drug Carriers through Supramolecular Self-Assembly of RNA with Calixarene
Supramolecular self-assembly is a powerful tool for the development of polymolecular assemblies that can form the basis of useful nanomaterials. Given the increasing popularity of RNA therapy, the extension of this concept of self-assembly to RNA is limited. Herein, a simple method for the creation...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/9/7911 |
Summary: | Supramolecular self-assembly is a powerful tool for the development of polymolecular assemblies that can form the basis of useful nanomaterials. Given the increasing popularity of RNA therapy, the extension of this concept of self-assembly to RNA is limited. Herein, a simple method for the creation of nanosized particles through the supramolecular self-assembly of RNA with a three-dimensional macrocycle from the calixarene family was reported for the first time. This self-assembly into nanoparticles was realized using cooperative supramolecular interactions under mild conditions. The obtained nanoparticles are able to bind various hydrophobic (quercetin, oleic acid) and hydrophilic (doxorubicin) drugs, as a result of which their cytotoxic properties are enhanced. This work demonstrates that intermolecular interactions between flexible RNA and rigid calixarene is a promising route to bottom-up assembly of novel supramolecular soft matter, expanding the design possibilities of nanoscale drug carriers. |
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ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |