title: Role of generation, architecture, pH and ionic strength on successful siRNA delivery and transfection by hybrid PPV-PAMAM dendrimers.
abstract: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) constitutes an excellent way of knocking down genes. However, it requires the use of delivery systems to reach the target cells, especially to neuronal cells. Dendrimers are one of the most widely used synthetic nanocarriers for siRNA delivery. However, due to the complexity of the dendrimer-siRNA interactions, when a new dendritic carrier is designed it is difficult to predict its efficiency to bind and to deliver siRNA. At the same time it is not easy to understand the origin of eventual limited functionalities. We have modeled the interactions between two dendrimers (TDG-G1 and TDG-G2) and siRNA using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results were compared to experimental physico-chemical parameters such as siRNA complexation, complex stability, size, and zeta potentials and biological effects such as down-regulation of a specific RNA expression in cortical neurons in culture. Data indicate that the combination of rigid core and flexible branches guarantees strong siRNA binding, which is important to have a good transfection profile. However, the successful nanocarrier for siRNA delivery (TDG-G1) is identified not only by a high affinity for siRNA, but by a favorable equilibrium between a strong binding and the ability to release siRNA to exert its biological action. The conditions under which the dendriplex is formed are also relevant for transfection efficiency and biological activity.
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)-Laboratory of Applied Mathematics and Physics (LaMFI). Manno, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monteagudo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carrión
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ocaña
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Lopez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danani
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martínez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ceña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008958:Models, Molecular; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases