Rna hydrogels

Abstract

Disclosed herein are RNA molecules with particular nucleotide sequences that, through Watson-Crick base pairing, enable the RNAs to form a hydrogel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A synthetic RNA comprising:
 a 5′ region, a first loop region, an inter-loop region, a second loop region, and a 3′ region, wherein through Watson-Crick pairing, the synthetic RNA has the secondary structure of A,   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         2 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 1 , wherein the 5′ region consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14. 
     
     
         3 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 2 , wherein the first loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 20. 
     
     
         4 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 2 , wherein the inter-loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 21 or SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
         5 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 2 , wherein the second loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, and SEQ ID NO: 23. 
     
     
         6 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 2 , wherein the 3′ region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24 or SEQ ID NO: 25. 
     
     
         7 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 2 , wherein the 5′ region consists of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; the first loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20; the inter-loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 21 or SEQ ID NO: 22; the second loop region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 18, and SEQ ID NO: 23; and the 3′ region consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 24 or SEQ ID NO: 25. 
     
     
         8 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 1 , wherein a oligonucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
     
     
         9 . A synthetic RNA of  claim 1  comprising tandem repeats of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
     
     
         10 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 9 , where the tandem repeats are separated by a linking/intervening nucleotide sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The synthetic RNA of  claim 8 , wherein the oligonucleotide forms a hydrogel. 
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a synthetic oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. 
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a hydrogel comprising an oligonucleotide with the nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 3, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13.