Recent developments in the delivery of peptide nucleic acid (PNAs)

Abstract

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers have tremendous potential as therapeutics; however, their delivery is challenging and has limited their development as therapeutics. In recent years, new strategies for delivering water-soluble backbone-modified PNA oligomers into cells for antisense and gene editing applications have garnered significant attention. This review critically examines earlier delivery approaches and their limitations, highlights recent advances in PNA engineering and nanocarrier design, and discusses the future directions necessary to advance PNA-based therapeutics. By integrating these innovations, PNAs hold the potential to transform biomedical applications and contribute to the next generation of precision medicine.