In vivo delivery of RNAi with lipid-based nanoparticles

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) technology represents a fundamentally new category of treatments for human disease by addressing targets that are traditionally considered undruggable with existing medicines. The major challenge for RNAi-based therapy is the delivery system that meets human therapeutic needs. Therefore, engineering vectors with good delivery efficiency and safety profile is an intense area of research. Lipid-based nanoparticles for RNAi have yielded successful advances in vivo and to an extent in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the barriers in developing lipid-based nanoparticles for in vivo RNAi and different strategies to overcome them. Rational designs that address safety concerns and ensure effective delivery will aid the translation of engineered lipid-based nanoparticles toward the clinic in the foreseeable future.