Hefferon Kathleen L
Cornell Research Foundation 395 Pine Tree Rd, Suite 310, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
Recent Pat Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2010 Nov;5(3):226-39. doi: 10.2174/157489110793348794.
Short interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, belong to a class of RNA species which play a role in both cellular defence and gene regulation. siRNAs comprise a larger portion of the RNA interference pathway that includes the degradation of RNAs which possess complementarily to specific target sequences. This property has given siRNA technology the potential to become a powerful new tool for a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from the design of novel anti-cancer agents to applications in agriculture. The following review outlines patents that have been issued over the past 6 months concerning siRNA technology. Patents are discussed which encompass improved delivery systems for cellular uptake of siRNAs, new therapeutics to combat human diseases, and unique uses of siRNAs to advance plant science. The review also provides detailed lists of the most recent patents that have been issued which cover these areas of siRNA technology, and paves the way for future innovations based on RNA interference in the life sciences.
小干扰RNA（siRNA）属于一类RNA分子，在细胞防御和基因调控中均发挥作用。siRNA在RNA干扰途径中占较大比例，该途径包括降解与特定靶序列互补的RNA。这一特性使siRNA技术有可能成为广泛学科领域的强大新工具，从新型抗癌药物的设计到农业应用。以下综述概述了过去6个月中已颁发的有关siRNA技术的专利。讨论了涵盖改善siRNA细胞摄取的递送系统、对抗人类疾病的新疗法以及推进植物科学的siRNA独特用途的专利。该综述还提供了已颁发的涵盖这些siRNA技术领域的最新专利的详细清单，并为基于生命科学中RNA干扰的未来创新铺平了道路。
