Disclosed herein are therapeutic complexes comprising a small-molecule drug complexed with a functional RNA. Further disclosed herein are compositions comprising nanoparticles comprising a carrier polypeptide and a functional RNA molecule complexed with a small-molecule drug, wherein the carrier polypeptide comprises a cell-targeting segment, a cell-penetrating segment, and an oligonucleotide-binding segment, along with methods of making and using such nanoparticles. Further described are methods of treating a subject with a cancer, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising nanoparticles, the nanoparticles comprising a carrier polypeptide and a functional RNA molecule complexed with a small-molecule chemotherapeutic drug, wherein the carrier polypeptide comprises a cell-targeting segment, a cell-penetrating segment, and an oligonucleotide-binding segment. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions, articles of manufacture, and kits comprising the described nanoparticles.
