DNAZTECH
Abstract

Over the past decade, an innovative type of genetic therapy has been in development. Taking advantage of mRNA’s essential function (the production of proteins), messenger RNA (mRNA) therapy represents a potent and versatile alternative to conventional vaccines. However, it is known that the mRNA molecule is quickly degraded by extracellular nucleases which hinders the therapy’s effectiveness. Using a DNA-RNA hybrid, our goal is to construct an mRNA delivery system in order to increase the therapy’s stability and efficiency. Using the mRNA as a scaffold and short single stranded DNA (ssDNA) staples, we will fold a wireframe tetrahedron that can not only stabilize the mRNA molecule against nuclease attack and degradation, but also deliver, through a strand displacement mechanism, the instructions that will eventually produce its corresponding protein.