Versatile RNA tetra-U helix linking motif as a toolkit for nucleic acid nanotechnology

We report design and application of de novo RNA toolkit: tetra-U helix linking motif. This artificial building block is versatile and can be used to fabricate nanometer scaled RNA equilateral polygons triangle, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon etc. Herein, we focused particular attention on triangular nano-scaffold and demonstrated that its physicochemical properties as well as immunostimulatory activity can be fine-tuned by replacing unmodified RNA strand with DNA. This strategy is unique as this provides inexpensive methods to construct thermodynamicaly stable and enzymatic resistant yet functional hybrid nanoparticles.133