title: Self-assembly cationic nanoparticles based on cholesterol-grafted bioreducible poly(amidoamine) for siRNA delivery.
abstract: In this study, a series of bioreducible poly(amidoamine)s grafting different percentages of cholesterol (rPAA-Ch14: 14%, rPAA-Ch29: 29%, rPAA-Ch57: 57% and rPAA-Ch87: 87%) was synthesized and used for siRNA delivery. These amphiphilic polymers were able to self-assemble into cationic nanoparticles in aqueous solution at low concentrations. The nanoparticle formation was evidenced via cryo-transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM) and dynamic light scattering analysis. The average hydrodynamic size of rPAA-Ch blank nanoparticles was about 80-160 nm with zeta potential of 50-60 mV. Also, the effects of different percentages of cholesterol grafted onto rPAA on physicochemical characteristics, in vitro cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, VEGF gene silencing efficacy and translocation mechanism of rPAA-Ch/siRNA complexes were investigated. The results showed that rPAA-Ch57 polymer was not only able to form stable nanocomplexes and possess high cell uptake, but also to exhibit the best in vitro VEGF gene silencing efficacy and the best in vivo tumor growth inhibition effect when it was formulated with VEGF-siRNA. Moreover, the observations of confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and the study of cholesterol competitive inhibition demonstrated that endosomal/lysosomal escape and cytoplasmic dissociation of rPAA-Ch57/siRNA complexes were dependent on the "proton sponge effect" and disulfide cleavage, following internalization with cholesterol-related endocytosis pathway and subsequent transportion into endosomes/lysosomes. These findings indicated that the rPAA-Ch57 polymer should be a promising and potent carrier for siRNA delivery.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: En-Yu
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ling-Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Liang-Ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wan-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D004705:Endocytosis; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; C531249:Poly(amidoamine); D011073:Polyamines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D002784:Cholesterol