title: Multifunctional cationic lipid-based nanoparticles facilitate endosomal escape and reduction-triggered cytosolic siRNA release.
abstract: Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has garnered much attention in recent years as a promising avenue for cancer gene therapy due to its ability to silence disease-related genes. Effective gene silencing is contingent upon the delivery of siRNA into the cytosol of target cells and requires the implementation of delivery systems possessing multiple functionalities to overcome delivery barriers. The present work explores the multifunctional properties and biological activity of a recently developed cationic lipid carrier, (1-aminoethyl)iminobis[N-(oleicylcysteinyl-1-amino-ethyl)propionamide]) (ECO). The physicochemical properties and biological activity of ECO/siRNA nanoparticles were assessed over a range of N/P ratios to optimize the formulation. Potent and sustained luciferase silencing in a U87 glioblastoma cell line was observed, even in the presence of serum proteins. ECO/siRNA nanoparticles exhibited pH-dependent membrane disruption at pH levels corresponding to various stages of the intracellular trafficking pathway. It was found that disulfide linkages created during nanoparticle formation enhanced the protection of siRNA from degradation and facilitated site-specific siRNA release in the cytosol by glutathione-mediated reduction. Confocal microscopy confirmed that ECO/siRNA nanoparticles readily escaped from late endosomes prior to cytosolic release of the siRNA cargo. These results demonstrate that the rationally designed multifunctionality of ECO/siRNA nanoparticles is critical for intracellular siRNA delivery and the continuing development of safe and effective delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States.
authors.forename: Maneesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gujrati
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamas
authors.forename: Tesia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Erlei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yunlu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zheng-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002412:Cations; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D002412:Cations; D004220:Disulfides; D008055:Lipids; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D005978:Glutathione