Welcome to the final installment of Quandary This! Chemistry in the News, and thank you for joining us on this journey. In today’s article, we will look into a strategy to deliver improved treatment for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurogenerative diseases.
Thank you for joining us on the Quandary This! journey throughout 2025. If this series has sparked classroom discussion or personal curiosity, we invite you to keep exploring. Start by browsing our Additional Resources below for more educator‑ready materials from ACS.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), represent some of the most challenging health conditions globally. These disorders are characterized by progressive neuronal loss, leading to cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and ultimately severe disability. Despite decades of research, current treatments largely focus on symptom management rather than halting or reversing disease progression. This has spurred interest in innovative approaches, including RNA interference.
RNA interference is a mechanism that silences specific genes implicated in disease pathology by degrading messenger RNA (mRNA) before it can be translated into protein. Therapeutically, this process can be harnessed using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) designed to target disease-causing genes. Because it can selectively inhibit pathogenic proteins without affecting unrelated cellular processes, RNA interference offers hope for disease-modifying therapies rather than symptomatic relief.
Continued innovation in delivery technologies and rigorous clinical testing will determine whether this promise translates into real-world therapies for millions affected by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related disorders.
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General Questions (appropriate for all students)
Challenge 1: Literature Research
Challenge 2: Essay Investigation
Suggested Reading
Additional Resources
General Questions
For Teaching Professionals: The following questions are intended to help students understand the ways in which scientific study touches their lives by looking at news coverage of research. Students will find the answers to the questions by reading the news article linked in the prompt.
For Students: Answer the following questions, using the C&EN article “Start-up to use 'shuttles' to get RNAi into the brain” or another source of your choice.
- What is the name of the start-up developing “brain shuttles” for RNAi delivery to treat neurodegenerative diseases?
- Which two neurodegenerative diseases are the initial targets for the company’s RNAi treatments?
- What is the primary function of the “brain shuttle” technology mentioned in the article?
- What major technical challenge does the start-up aim to overcome when delivering RNAi molecules to the brain?
- The researchers are borrowing a technique from another field of research. What field are they borrowing from, and what is the technique they are borrowing?
Challenge 1: Literature Research
For Teaching Professionals: The following questions are intended to help students learn the critical skill of searching trusted sources of information, such as peer-reviewed literature, to find answers to specific questions. We encourage instructors to assign these questions to students enrolled in any introductory chemistry lab or lecture. By using literature to find the answers, students will learn to search and consume trusted scientific content with the intention of uncovering specific information. The grading is up to you, but we strongly recommend holding students accountable for presenting a clear answer to each question and accurately tying that answer to a properly cited source.
For Students: For each of the following questions, provide an answer and cite the source of your information in ACS style. You can view citation examples and guidance in the ACS Style Quick Guide.
All the questions posed below can be answered in the journals, books, and news published by ACS Publications. While it is not the only reputable source of peer-reviewed information, the Suggested Reading list below may help you answer most, if not all, of these questions. Make sure you are logged in to your institution's library portal if you wish to search for additional sources on the ACS Publications website.
- List 8 types of functional RNAs and 3 types of RNA nanostructure design.
- What is considered the optimal delivery system for brain accumulation of drugs? Why?
- What are three benefits of using hybrid nanovesicles to deliver drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease?
- Through what process do some micelle composites cross the blood–brain barrier?
- What are three types of drug delivery platforms that are used to deliver small interfering RNAs and are currently in clinical trials? What is the platform that is already approved for use in medical treatments?
Challenge 2: Essay Investigation
For Teaching Professionals: The following essay question is intended to help students go one step beyond simple question and answer research. This exercise encourages students not only to consider multidisciplinary exploration around a topic but also to develop written communication skills. As with other questions in this series, the grading is up to you, but we encourage you to help students develop a clear and concise style. Where possible, utilize chemical drawing utilities or neat handwritten molecules and mechanisms. The ideal answer should take no more than one sheet of paper. The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication can be a great reference.
For Students: Small interfering RNAs are promising treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Discuss the reason they may be successful where other treatments are not, the delivery system you would choose as a treatment option, and the pros and cons of the delivery system you chose.
Suggested Reading
If you encounter content that is not free to read, please ensure you are logged into your institution’s library portal. If you still are unable to access the content you need, please recommend the content to your library or contact them directly to let them know there are articles you’d like to read.
- Cellular Delivery of RNA Nanoparticles
- Enhanced Nose-to-Brain Delivery of Combined Small Interfering RNAs Using Lesion-Recognizing Nanoparticles for the Synergistic Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Biomimetic Nanovesicles as a Dual Gene Delivery System for the Synergistic Gene Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease
- Synthesis of Double Interfering Biodegradable Nano-MgO Micelle Composites and Their Effect on Parkinson’s Disease
- Recent Progress of Small Interfering RNA Delivery on the Market and Clinical Stage
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