Nucleic acid carrier

A nucleic acid carrier is a functional category of delivery systems, rather than a single biological molecule, designed to transport therapeutic nucleic acids—such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), or plasmid DNA—to their intracellular sites of action. These carriers are essential for overcoming the physical and biological barriers of nucleic acid therapy, including large molecular size, high negative charge, and rapid degradation by extracellular nucleases [7, 10, 15]. They are broadly classified into viral vectors (e.g., adeno-associated virus, lentivirus) and non-viral systems, which include lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), cationic polymers (polyplexes), and bio-inspired vehicles like exosomes [1, 12, 14]. While critical for the delivery of the drug payload, these carriers are not typically the biological target themselves; rather, they enable the drug to reach its true target, such as messenger RNA or the genome [2, 13]. Endogenous proteins like SIDT1, SIDT2, and PEG10 also act as natural nucleic acid carriers in the body, transporting RNA across membranes or facilitating horizontal gene transfer [1, 2]. Safety concerns associated with these systems include immunogenicity, hypersensitivity to components like polyethylene glycol (PEG), and potential toxicity related to the cationic charge required for nucleic acid complexation [4, 7, 9].

Other names

Nucleic acid delivery systemNanocarrierGene delivery vectorLipid nanoparticle (LNP)Viral vectorPolyplexLipoplexNon-viral vectorExosome

Facilitation of intracellular transport and protection of therapeutic genetic material (DNA/RNA) from enzymatic degradation, enabling gene silencing, gene expression, or genome editing by bypassing biological membranes and promoting endosomal escape.