Scavenger receptors in the cellular uptake of nucleic acids A new tool for bioinspired nanotechnology

Scavenger receptors are cell surface receptors with multiple functions in physiological processes like maintenance of homeostasis, clearance of apoptotic cells and pathogens. The ability of class A scavenger receptors to bind nucleic acids makes them particularly attractive as potential targets to address the uptake of nucleic acid based therapeutics. Very recently scavenger receptors were reported to mediate the uptake oligonucleotides complexed with cell penetrating peptides (CPPs). The novel CPPs of PepFect family very efficiently present nucleic acids to scavenger receptors and transfect cells. Harnessing of scavenger receptors could open new possibilities for application of nucleic acid based drugs in conjunction with CPPs, which on one hand enhance their efficacy and on the other, provide specificity of targeting.