title: siRNA nanocarriers based on methacrylic acid copolymers.
abstract: Poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(propyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PEG-b-P(PrMA-co-MAA) can be complexed with poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers and nucleic acids to form pH-responsive nanosized core-shell type polyion complex micelles (PICMs). These PICMs have the ability to lose their shell and release the PAMAM/nucleic acid core under mildly acidic conditions such as those encountered in the endosomal compartment. In this work, pH-sensitive PICMs composed of PEG-b-P(PrMA-co-MAA), different PAMAMs, and siRNAs were prepared and characterized. These micelles had mean diameters ranging from 50 to 100 nm depending on the structure of the polycationic component. In order to trigger PICM uptake by receptor-mediated endocytosis, the micelles were decorated with an antibody fragment directed against the transferrin receptor (anti-CD71). The targeting ligand was stably conjugated to a semi-telechelic amino-PEG-b-P(PrMA-co-MAA) via a maleimide/activated ester bifunctional linker, yielding up to 60%-80% functionalization of the maleimide groups. The cellular uptake of the micelles was assessed on human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) via flow cytometry. Native PICMs and micelles bearing a non-specific antibody fragment were taken up to the same extent with a low efficiency, whereas anti-CD71 Fab'-decorated PICMs exhibited significantly higher uptake. The capacity of the targeted, siRNA-loaded, PICMs to downregulate the expression of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic oncoprotein was investigated using the appropriate unmodified or 2'-modified (2'F-RNA and 2'F-ANA) siRNA sequence. Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels were greatly reduced when the cells were transfected with anti-CD71 decorated PICMs. Optimal silencing was achieved with the chemically modified siRNA. These data suggest that combining optimized siRNA chemistry with an effective delivery system can potentiate the activity of siRNA, thereby potentially reducing the total dose of carrier required to achieve a pharmacological effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Arnaud E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Felber
authors.forename: Bastien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castagner
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elsabahy
authors.forename: Glen F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Deleavey
authors.forename: Masad J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Damha
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leroux
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols