Modified miRNA Backbone Structure for Exosomal Small RNA Expression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current small RNA expression methods, particularly using miR backbones, suffer from low expression quantity and poor therapeutic effects due to instability and unsatisfactory expression levels in cells and exosomes, limiting their application in disease treatment.

Innovation Solution

A modified nucleic acid molecule with a 5'-3' structure comprising specific flanking and Loop sequences, along with a compensatory sequence, is used to enhance the expression of small RNA molecules, forming a stem-loop structure that increases intracellular and exosomal expression levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If current miR backbone structures are used for small RNA expression, then the RNA can be expressed in cells, but the expression quantity is low and the RNA is unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexpression quantity of small RNAVSAvoidstability of small RNA
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the miR backbone structure by changing specific sequence parameters - removing the AATTCG sequence from the 5' flanking region and the CACCGGT sequence from the 3' flanking region, and optimizing the Loop sequence. These parameter changes in the nucleic acid sequence improve both the stability and expression quantity of the small RNA molecules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If small RNA is delivered to target organs, then therapeutic effects can be achieved, but the delivery efficiency is insufficient with current methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoiddelivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes exosomes as intermediary carriers to deliver small RNA molecules to target organs. The optimized miR backbone structure enables efficient loading of small RNA into exosomes, which then serve as protective vehicles for transport through the bloodstream to target tissues, significantly improving delivery efficiency while maintaining therapeutic effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4640831A1Nucleic acid molecule and use thereof
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 NANJING CUREGENE TECH CO LTD
  • EP4640831A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4640831A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4640831A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided are a nucleic acid molecule and a use thereof. The nucleic acid molecule comprises a miRNA backbone nucleic acid molecule for generating a target small molecule RNA. Also provided is an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule. When the miRNA backbone nucleic acid molecule and the expression vector are used for expression of a target small molecule RNA, the expression quantity of the target small molecule RNA in a host cell and the expression quantity of the target small molecule RNA in exosomes secreted by the host cell can be increased.