title: Multiscale Simulation as a Framework for the Enhanced Design of Nanodiamond-Polyethylenimine-based Gene Delivery.
abstract: Nanodiamonds (NDs) are emerging carbon platforms with promise as gene/drug delivery vectors for cancer therapy. Specifically, NDs functionalized with the polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) can transfect small interfering RNAs (siRNA) in vitro with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity. Here we present a modeling framework to accurately guide the design of ND-PEI gene platforms and elucidate binding mechanisms between ND, PEI, and siRNA. This is among the first ND simulations to comprehensively account for ND size, charge distribution, surface functionalization, and graphitization. The simulation results are compared with our experimental results both for PEI loading onto NDs and for siRNA (C-myc) loading onto ND-PEI for various mixing ratios. Remarkably, the model is able to predict loading trends and saturation limits for PEI and siRNA, while confirming the essential role of ND surface functionalization in mediating ND-PEI interactions. These results demonstrate that this robust framework can be a powerful tool in ND platform development, with the capacity to realistically treat other nanoparticle systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208 USA.
authors.forename: Hansung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Han Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Adrian M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kopacz
authors.forename: One-Sun
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wing Kam
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Liu