Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics

ABSTRACT Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry owing to its superior safety profile, manufacturing capabilities, and potential applications in previously undruggable therapeutic targets. In addition to linear mRNA, such as conventional mRNA, self‐amplifying m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lei Wang, Lianqing Wang, Chunbo Dong, Jialong Liu, Guoxin Cui, Shan Gao, Zhida Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Exploration
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240044
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849221965571686400
author Lei Wang
Lianqing Wang
Chunbo Dong
Jialong Liu
Guoxin Cui
Shan Gao
Zhida Liu
author_facet Lei Wang
Lianqing Wang
Chunbo Dong
Jialong Liu
Guoxin Cui
Shan Gao
Zhida Liu
author_sort Lei Wang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry owing to its superior safety profile, manufacturing capabilities, and potential applications in previously undruggable therapeutic targets. In addition to linear mRNA, such as conventional mRNA, self‐amplifying mRNA, and trans‐amplifying mRNA, circular mRNA has emerged as a promising candidate. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of single‐stranded RNA with a covalently closed loop structure that offers enhanced stability compared to linear RNA by resisting degradation from RNases. Recent studies have revolutionized our understanding of their biological functions, surpassing the notion that they are merely byproducts of aberrant splicing events. Given the remarkable success achieved in cancer and SARS‐CoV‐2/monkeypox virus (MPXV) vaccines, circRNA is being intensively investigated for gene and cell therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of circRNA biogenesis mechanisms in vivo, along with synthesis strategies in vitro, while discussing translation regulation mechanisms and quality control processes involved in circRNA production. Furthermore, we explore the potential application scenarios for circRNAs.
format Article
id doaj-art-e28ddbe6296d4197a5e8524961182311
institution Kabale University
issn 2766-8509
2766-2098
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Exploration
spelling doaj-art-e28ddbe6296d4197a5e85249611823112025-08-26T10:33:05ZengWileyExploration2766-85092766-20982025-08-0154n/an/a10.1002/EXP.20240044Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA TherapeuticsLei Wang0Lianqing Wang1Chunbo Dong2Jialong Liu3Guoxin Cui4Shan Gao5Zhida Liu6Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation Taiyuan ChinaCenter of Translational Medicine Zibo Central Hospital Zibo ChinaShanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation Taiyuan ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan ChinaRed Sea Research Center Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi ArabiaShanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation Taiyuan ChinaShanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation Taiyuan ChinaABSTRACT Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry owing to its superior safety profile, manufacturing capabilities, and potential applications in previously undruggable therapeutic targets. In addition to linear mRNA, such as conventional mRNA, self‐amplifying mRNA, and trans‐amplifying mRNA, circular mRNA has emerged as a promising candidate. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of single‐stranded RNA with a covalently closed loop structure that offers enhanced stability compared to linear RNA by resisting degradation from RNases. Recent studies have revolutionized our understanding of their biological functions, surpassing the notion that they are merely byproducts of aberrant splicing events. Given the remarkable success achieved in cancer and SARS‐CoV‐2/monkeypox virus (MPXV) vaccines, circRNA is being intensively investigated for gene and cell therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of circRNA biogenesis mechanisms in vivo, along with synthesis strategies in vitro, while discussing translation regulation mechanisms and quality control processes involved in circRNA production. Furthermore, we explore the potential application scenarios for circRNAs.https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240044back‐splicingcircRNAIRESmRNAribozymetherapeutics
spellingShingle Lei Wang
Lianqing Wang
Chunbo Dong
Jialong Liu
Guoxin Cui
Shan Gao
Zhida Liu
Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
Exploration
back‐splicing
circRNA
IRES
mRNA
ribozyme
therapeutics
title Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
title_full Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
title_fullStr Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
title_short Exploring the Potential and Advancements of Circular RNA Therapeutics
title_sort exploring the potential and advancements of circular rna therapeutics
topic back‐splicing
circRNA
IRES
mRNA
ribozyme
therapeutics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/EXP.20240044
work_keys_str_mv AT leiwang exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT lianqingwang exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT chunbodong exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT jialongliu exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT guoxincui exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT shangao exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics
AT zhidaliu exploringthepotentialandadvancementsofcircularrnatherapeutics