title: Lipid nanoparticles for short interfering RNA delivery.
abstract: The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian cells has created a new class of therapeutics based on the reversible silencing of specific disease-causing genes. This therapeutic potential depends on the ability to deliver inducers of RNAi, such as short-interfering RNA (siRNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA), to cells of target tissues. This chapter reviews various challenges and delivery strategies for siRNA, with a particular focus on the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies. Currently, LNP delivery systems are the most advanced technology for systemic delivery of siRNA, with numerous formulations under various stages of clinical trials. We also discuss methods to improve gene silencing potency of LNP-siRNA, as well as application of LNP technologies beyond siRNA to the encapsulation of other nucleic acids such as mRNA and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Alex K K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Yuen Yi C
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Pieter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cullis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D064112:Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: CRISPR; Gene silencing; Lipid nanoparticle; Microfluidics; RNA interference; Systemic delivery; mRNA; siRNA