title: Functionalization of carbon nanotubes via cleavable disulfide bonds for efficient intracellular delivery of siRNA and potent gene silencing.
abstract: We present a novel functionalization scheme for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to afford nanotube-biomolecule conjugates with the incorporation of cleavable bonds to enable controlled molecular releasing from nanotube surfaces, thus creating "smart" nanomaterials with high potential for chemical and biological applications. With this versatile functionalization, we demonstrate transporting, enzymatic cleaving and releasing of DNA from SWNT transporters, and subsequent nuclear translocation of DNA oligonucleotides in mammalian cells. We further show highly efficient delivery of siRNA by SWNTs and achieving more potent RNAi functionality than a widely used conventional transfection agent. Thus, the novel functionalization of SWNTs with cleavable bonds is highly promising for a wide range of applications including gene and protein therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Nadine Wong Shi
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hongjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010743:Phospholipids; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D004247:DNA