Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA) (IMAGE)

Northwestern University

Spherical Nucleic Acid (SNA)

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SNAs are a globular form of DNA that can easily enter cells and bind to targets. More effective than linear DNA of the same sequence, SNAs have demonstrated significant potential in gene regulation, gene editing, drug delivery and vaccine development — even in certain cases curing deadly forms of skin cancer in a clinical setting. SNAs are one example of how structural design changes how a therapeutic interacts with the body.

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Chad A. Mirkin/Northwestern University

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