In vivo sojourn of DNA nanodevices: taking stock of the past and perspective for future challenges & applications

Abstract

DNA based nanotechnology has witnessed phenomenal advances in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, bio imaging and bio sensing. Designer DNA nanodevices are at the forefront of many technological breakthroughs in modern science. An emerging class of programmable DNA nanodevices offer unique and powerful approaches for targeted drug delivery in vivo with minimal toxicity. The potential advantages of DNA nanostructures have ensured a bright future of DNA based nanodevices for almost all the domains of biomedical applications. This review integrates fundamental aspects of DNA nanotechnology and delineates the recent advances in therapeutics and in vivo targets of designer DNA nanostructures. It specifically discusses the history of the DNA nanotechnology origin, building of DNA nanostructures,their interface with biological systems such as cellular uptake, intracellular fate and in vivo targeting of 3D DNA nanostructures. Finally, it identifies the challenges of DNA nanotechnology and paves the prospective ways for their futuristic transitions into devices in healthcare and bioengineering.