Rational design of targeted cancer therapeutics through the multiconjugation of folate and cleavable siRNA to RAFT-synthesized (HPMA-s-APMA) copolymers.
A well-defined N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide-s-N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA-s-APMA) copolymer, synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, was utilized for the rational design of multiconjugates containing both a gene therapeutic, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and a cancer cell targeting moiety, folate. The copolymer contains a biocompatible poly(HPMA) portion (91 mol %) and a primary amine, APMA, portion (9 mol %). A fraction (20 mol %) of the APMA repeats were converted to activated thiols utilizing the amine- and sulfhydryl-reactive molecule N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate (SPDP). 5'-Thiolated sense strand RNAs were then coupled to the polymer through a disulfide exchange with pendant pyridyldithio moieties, giving an 89 +/- 4% degree of conjugation. The unmodified APMA units (80 mol %) were subsequently coupled to amine reactive folates with 81 +/- 1% efficiency. This yielded a multiconjugate copolymer with 91 mol % HPMA, 2 mol % RNA, and 6 mol % folate. siRNA formation was achieved by annealing antisense strands to the conjugated RNA sense strands. Subsequent siRNA cleavage under intracellular conditions demonstrated the potential utility of this carrier in gene delivery. The multiconjugate copolymer and siRNA release were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
York
Adam W
AW
Department of Polymer Science, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, 39406, USA.
Huang
Faqing
F
McCormick
Charles L
CL
D000178:Acrylamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D015195:Drug Design; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
D000178:Acrylamides; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C524817:poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide)-DOTA-64Cu conjugate; D005492:Folic Acid; C032976:N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide