Abstract: Described herein is a DNA nanotechnology-based platform for the delivery of nucleic acids into cells. The delivery platform relies on compacting cargo mRNA and/or ssDNA into single folded nanostructures that act as the primary structural vehicle material for nanoparticle delivery to cells. The described compositions and methods provide an alternative to packaging mRNA or ssDNA into lipid nanoparticle vehicles, which have complex formulation properties. Also described herein are strategies for protecting mRNA and/or ssDNA cargo and helping these nucleic acid molecules escape the endosome into the cytoplasm using a cationic peptide-PEG coating.