Nanotherapeutic approaches for delivery of long non-coding RNAs: an updated review with emphasis on cancer.

The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a wide range of RNA species whose length exceeds 200 nucleotides, which regulate the expression of genes and cellular functions in a wide range of organisms. Several diseases, including malignancy, have been associated with lncRNA dysregulation. Due to their functions in cancer development and progression, lncRNAs have emerged as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Several studies have investigated the anti-cancer properties of lncRNAs; however, only a few lncRNAs have been found to exhibit tumor suppressor properties. Furthermore, their length and poor stability make them difficult to synthesize. Thus, to overcome the instability of lncRNAs, poor specificity, and their off-target effects, researchers have constructed nanocarriers that encapsulate lncRNAs. Recently, translational medicine research has focused on delivering lncRNAs into tumor cells, including cancer cells, through nano-drug delivery systems