Membrane-wrapped nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery

There is an unmet need for carriers that can deliver nucleic acids (NAs) to cancer cells and tumors to perpetuate gene regulation and manage disease progression. Membrane-wrapped nanoparticles (NPs) can be loaded with exogenously designed nucleic acid cargoes, such as plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (pDNA), messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs), to mitigate challenges presented by NAs' undesirable negative charge, hydrophilicity, and relatively large size. By conjugating or encapsulating NAs within membrane-wrapped NPs, various physiological barriers can be overcome so that NAs experience increased blood circulation half-lives and enhanced accumulation in intended sites. This review discusses the status of membrane-wrapped NPs as NA delivery vehicles and their advancement in gene regulation for cancer management in vitro and in vivo. With continued development, membrane-wrapped NPs have great potential as future clinical tools to treat cancer and other diseases with a known genetic basis.

Automated summary

There is a need for carriers that can deliver nucleic acids (NAs) to cancer cells and tumors for gene regulation and disease management. Membrane-wrapped nanoparticles (NPs) can overcome challenges presented by NAs' negative charge, hydrophilicity, and large size and enhance their circulation and accumulation. This review discusses the role of membrane-wrapped NPs as NA delivery vehicles and their advancements in cancer gene regulation. This technology has great potential as a future clinical tool for treating cancer and genetic diseases.