Advances in Design, Synthesis and Applications of Peptide Nucleic Acid
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 1513
Special Issue Editors
Interests: design and synthesis of PNA; miRNAs; therapeutics; diagnostic; biomarkers; cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: PNA synthesis and delivery; miRNA; diagnostic; biomarkers; rational design
Interests: oligonucleotides; oxidative DNA damage; DNA repair; diagnostic; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
PNA represents a unique class of synthetic nucleic acid analogs that have gained significant attention due to their promising applications in various biotechnology and therapeutics fields. The design of PNAs has evolved to encompass a wide array of modifications, including backbone variations, side chain modifications, and conjugation strategies aimed at enhancing their stability, specificity, and functionality. These strategies have enabled the development of PNA molecules with enhanced hybridization properties, resistance to nucleases, and improved cellular uptake. Significant progress has been made in synthetic methodologies with advancements in solid-phase synthesis, automated synthesis, and microwave-assisted synthesis that have further streamlined the synthetic process and expanded the chemical diversity of PNA molecules. The application of PNA extends across a diverse range of fields, including molecular diagnostics, gene editing, and nanotechnology. In diagnostics, PNA-based probes offer superior sensitivity and specificity for target detection, enabling the accurate diagnosis of various diseases. Using PNA as a gene editing tool holds great promise for genome manipulation with minimal off-target effects. Improvements in delivery systems, such as nanoparticle-based carriers and cell-penetrating peptides, have facilitated the efficient delivery of PNA therapeutics, overcoming the challenges associated with cellular uptake and bioavailability. This Special Issue encapsulates the recent progress in the design, synthesis, and development of PNA molecules, highlighting their structural features, synthesis methodologies and emerging applications.
Dr. Maria Moccia
Dr. Concetta Avitabile
Dr. Annalisa Masi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- PNA
- nucleic acid analog
- molecular design
- synthesis
- delivery system
- therapeutics
- diagnostic
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