Potential Therapeutic Applications of Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) in Cancer: Key Observations and Insights.
- 1Department of Medicine; Hematology/Oncology Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract
Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are a unique class of nucleic acid nanotherapeutics characterized by densely packed, radially arranged oligonucleotides surrounding a nanoparticle or molecular core, or core-free nanoscale structures. Compared with conventional linear nucleic acids, SNAs exhibit excellent cellular uptake, resistance to nuclease degradation, and efficient target recognition without the help of transfection agents. This review summarizes SNAs' structural diversity, design principles, and the multiscale delivery barriers they encounter. We mainly focus on liposomal SNAs (LSNAs) as programmable platforms for cancer immunotherapy. We emphasize how lipid chemistry, membrane architecture, and anchor stability control lymphoid distribution, immune-cell uptake, antigen presentation, and strong antitumor immunity, rather than seeing lipids as inert carriers. Furthermore, we also discuss current developments in gene silencing, CRISPR-based genome editing, and stimulus-responsive multimodal therapies, highlighting the significant therapeutic advancements of SNAs like clinical trial NU-0129 and LSNAs like cavrotolimod. Finally, we describe present translational obstacles and potential prospects by using SNAs as next-generation precision immunotherapeutics.
Related
- Natural Products and Their Derivatives in Cancer, Cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19: Mechanistic Insights, Formulation Strategies, and Therapeutic Potential
- The Current Landscape of Exosome-Based Strategies for Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis: From Mechanistic Insights to Therapeutic Potential.
- Editorial: Bioactive and Nutritional Molecules: From Natural Sources to Therapeutic and Health Applications
- Epigenetic plasticity in cancer drug resistance: mechanistic insights and strategies for therapeutic intervention
- Cancer-associated fibroblasts in head and neck tumours: signalling networks and therapeutic implications with insights from vestibular schwannoma
BibTeX
@article{chen2026potential,
title = {{Potential Therapeutic Applications of Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) in Cancer: Key Observations and Insights.}},
author = {Yang Chen and Abu Baker and Bin Zhang},
journal = {International journal of nanomedicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2147/ijn.s604909},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921508},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Potential Therapeutic Applications of Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) in Cancer: Key Observations and Insights.
AU - Yang Chen
AU - Abu Baker
AU - Bin Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - International journal of nanomedicine
DO - 10.2147/ijn.s604909
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921508
AB - Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) are a unique class of nucleic acid nanotherapeutics characterized by densely packed, radially arranged oligonucleotides surrounding a nanoparticle or molecular core, or core-free nanoscale structures. Compared with conventional linear nucleic acids, SNAs exhibit excellent cellular uptake, resistance to nuclease degradation, and efficient target recognition without the help of transfection agents. This review summarizes SNAs' structural diversity, design principles, and the multiscale delivery barriers they encounter. We mainly focus on liposomal SNAs (LSNAs) as programmable platforms for cancer immunotherapy. We emphasize how lipid chemistry, membrane architecture, and anchor stability control lymphoid distribution, immune-cell uptake, antigen presentation, and strong antitumor immunity, rather than seeing lipids as inert carriers. Furthermore, we also discuss current developments in gene silencing, CRISPR-based genome editing, and stimulus-responsive multimodal therapies, highlighting the significant therapeutic advancements of SNAs like clinical trial NU-0129 and LSNAs like cavrotolimod. Finally, we describe present translational obstacles and potential prospects by using SNAs as next-generation precision immunotherapeutics.
SN - 1176-9114
SN - 1178-2013
ER -