DNAzymes as potential therapeutic molecules.

Numerous DNA-based biopharmaceuticals are able to control disease progression by induction and/or inhibition of genes. These potent therapeutics include plasmids containing transgenes, antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers, ribozymes, DNAzymes and short interfering RNAs. DNAzymes, which cleave RNA substrates in a sequence-specific manner, have been studied as potential therapeutics to target pathogenic mRNAs, and may yield drugs that are safer than those currently available. This reviewo discusses the structural design of DNAzymes and their modification for stability. Their therapeutic application and use as biomarkers is also discussed.