Programmable single-stranded circular antisense oligonucleotides for multitarget gene therapy

Abstract

Oligonucleotide therapeutics, especially antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), provide promising treatments for various diseases, with combinatorial ASO therapy increasing the efficacy. However, challenges persist in enhancing stability and ensuring precise delivery. Here, we proposed the use of single-stranded circular ASOs (circASOs) for the cosilence of multiple genes, which was demonstrated with universality. Notably, unmodified circASOs achieved a similar silencing efficiency compared to chemically modified ASOs. Multitargeted circASOs were also designed for simultaneous silencing of different genes, showing prolonged and higher gene silencing due to their high biostability. Furthermore, the circASO is compatible with various chemical modifications, which could further enhance the circASO functionality. This programmable circular ASO platform provides a versatile tool for designing multifunctional nucleic acid medicines for gene therapy.