Challenges and opportunities for circRNA identification and delivery

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved noncoding RNAs with tissue-specific expression patterns, and exert unique cellular functions that have the potential to become biomarkers in therapeutic applications. Therefore, accurate and sensitive detection of circRNA with facile platforms is essential for better understanding of circRNA biological processes and circRNA-related disease diagnosis and prognosis; and precise regulation of circRNA through efficient delivery of circRNA or siRNA is critical for therapeutic purposes. Here, we reviewed the current development of circRNA identification methodologies, including overviewing the purification steps, summarizing the sequencing methods of circRNA, as well as comparing the advantages and disadvantages of traditional and new detection methods. Then, we discussed the delivery and manipulation strategies for circRNAs in both research and clinic treatment. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of analyzing circRNAs were addressed.

Keywords:

• Circular RNA
• analysis
• identification
• detection
• biosensors

Acknowledgements

All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Consent form

Written informed consent was obtained from individual or guardian participants.

Author contributions

Jiani Dong: Conceptualization; Writing original draft. Zhuoer Zeng: Conceptualization; Writing original draft. Chuanpin Chen: Review and Editing. Zeneng Cheng: Review and Editing; Qubo Zhu: Review and Editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2021JJ30916) (2021JJ80078) (2022JJ10091) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (32270609).