In recent years, the main quest of science has been the pioneering of the groundbreaking biomedical strategies needed for achieving a personalized medicine. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are outstanding bioactive macromolecules identified as pivotal actors in regulating a wide range of biochemical pathways. The ability to intimately control the cell fate and tissue activities makes RNA-based drugs the most fascinating family of bioactive agents. However, achieving a widespread application of RNA therapeutics in humans is still a challenging feat, due to both the instability of naked RNA and the presence of biological barriers aimed at hindering the entrance of RNA into cells. Recently, material scientists’ enormous efforts have led to the development of various classes of nanostructured carriers customized to overcome these limitations. This work systematically reviews the current advances in developing the next generation of drugs based on nanotechnology-assisted RNA delivery. The features of the most used RNA molecules are presented, together with the development strategies and properties of nanostructured vehicles. Also provided is an in-depth overview of various therapeutic applications of the presented systems, including coronavirus disease vaccines and the newest trends in the field. Lastly, emerging challenges and future perspectives for nanotechnology-mediated RNA therapies are discussed.

中文翻译：

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纳米技术辅助 RNA 递送：从核酸治疗到 COVID-19 疫苗

近年来，科学的主要追求是开创实现个性化医疗所需的突破性生物医学策略。核糖核酸 (RNA) 是出色的生物活性大分子，被认为是调节多种生化途径的关键角色。密切控制细胞命运和组织活动的能力使基于 RNA 的药物成为最令人着迷的生物活性剂家族。然而，由于裸露RNA的不稳定性以及旨在阻碍RNA进入细胞的生物屏障的存在，实现RNA疗法在人类中的广泛应用仍然是一项具有挑战性的壮举。最近，材料科学家付出巨大努力，开发出了各类定制纳米结构载体，以克服这些限制。这项工作系统地回顾了当前开发基于纳米技术辅助 RNA 递送的下一代药物的进展。介绍了最常用的 RNA 分子的特征，以及纳米结构载体的开发策略和特性。还提供了对所提出系统的各种治疗应用的深入概述，包括冠状病毒疾病疫苗和该领域的最新趋势。最后，讨论了纳米技术介导的 RNA 疗法的新挑战和未来前景。