Recent Advances in RNA Drug Development

Dear Colleagues,

RNA therapeutics have emerged as a promising field in drug development, offering innovative approaches to treat various diseases. This Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances and future prospects in RNA drug development, from basic science to clinical applications.

We welcome original research articles and review manuscripts addressing the following topics. (a) RNA therapeutic modalities: Submissions exploring different types of RNA therapeutics, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), aptamers, and CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNAs. Articles discussing their mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential are also of interest. (b) Delivery systems for RNA therapeutics: Highlighting various delivery methods such as lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, conjugation strategies, and viral vectors. Evaluations of their efficacy and limitations are welcome. (c) Clinical applications and challenges: Papers focusing on approved RNA therapies and ongoing trials in areas like neurodegenerative diseases, genetic disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. Discussions on challenges in RNA drug development are encouraged. (d) Emerging technologies and regulatory considerations: Submissions exploring novel approaches to overcome current challenges, such as chemical modifications, new delivery platforms, combination therapies, and personalized RNA medicines. Articles addressing regulatory considerations and clinical trials are also of interest.

This Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals in RNA therapeutics and drug development.

Dr. Hidenori Tani
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.