title: N-acetylgalactosamine functionalized mixed micellar nanoparticles for targeted delivery of siRNA to liver.
abstract: Due to its efficient and specific gene silencing ability, RNA interference has shown great potential in the treatment of liver diseases. However, achieving in vivo delivery of siRNA to critical liver cells remains the biggest obstacle for this technique to be a real clinic therapeutic modality. Here, we describe a promising liver targeting siRNA delivery system based on N-acetylgalactosamine functionalized mixed micellar nanoparticles (Gal-MNP), which can efficiently deliver siRNA to hepatocytes and silence the target gene expression after systemic administration. The Gal-MNP were assembled in aqueous solution from mixed N-acetylgalactosamine functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) and cationic poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(2-aminoethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCL-b-PPEEA); the properties of nanoparticles, including particle size, zeta potential and the density of poly(ethylene glycol) could be easily regulated. The hepatocyte-targeting effect of Gal-MNP was demonstrated by significant enriching of fluorescent siRNA in primary hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. Successful down-regulation of liver-specific apolipoprotein B (apoB) expression was achieved in mouse liver, at both the transcriptional and protein level, following intravenous injection of Gal-MNP/siapoB to BALB/c mice. Systemic delivery of Gal-MNP/siRNA did not induce the innate immune response or positive hepatotoxicity. The results of this study suggested therapeutic potential for the Gal-MNP/siRNA system in liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Yu-Cai
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D020868:Gene Silencing; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D008823:Micelles; D011091:Polyesters; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C476300:poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene glycol); D000116:Acetylgalactosamine