title: Inulin-Ethylenediamine Coated SPIONs Magnetoplexes: A Promising Tool for Improving siRNA Delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An inulin based polycation (Inu-EDA) has been synthesized by the grafting of ethylenediamine molecules onto inulin backbone. The obtained inulin copolymer has been though to coat SPIONs (IC-SPIONs) and obtain stable magnetoplexes by complexation of IC-SPIONs with a model duplexed siRNA, for improving oligonucleotide transfection efficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  The physical-chemical characteristics of IC-SPIONs and IC-SPIONs/siRNA magnetoplexes have been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, dynamic light scattering, FT-IR and qualitative surface elementary analysis. Cell compatibility and internalization in vitro of IC-SPIONs have been evaluated by MTS and fluorescence microscopy respectively on cancer (HCT116) and normal human (16HBE) cells. The efficiency of gene silencing effect of magnetoplexes was studied on both tumoral (JHH6) and non tumoral (16HBE) cell lines also by applying an external magnet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IC-SPIONs showed dimension of 30 nm and resulted cytocompatible on the tested cell lines; in the presence of an external magnet, the magnetic force enhanced the IC-SPIONs uptake inside cells. Magnetically improved transfection was observed in 16HBE cells under magnetofective conditions, in accordance with the IC-SPIONs uptake enhancement in the presence of an external magnet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the potential application of this system as a magnetically targeted drug delivery system. Graphical Abstract Magnetically improved siRNA transfection in cells under magnetofective conditions upon uptake enhancement of IC-SPIONs in the presence of an external magnet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. mariano.licciardi@unipa.it.|Mediterranean Center for Human Health Advanced Biotechnologies (Med-CHAB), Palermo, Italy. mariano.licciardi@unipa.it.|Laboratory of Biocompatible Polymers, Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi, 32 90123, Palermo, Italy. mariano.licciardi@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Licciardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li Volsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gennara
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.|Mediterranean Center for Human Health Advanced Biotechnologies (Med-CHAB), Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammona
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000737:chemistry*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000737:chemistry*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010316:Particle Size; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C031234:ethylenediamine; D007444:Inulin; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide
keywords: SPIONs; inulin; magnetoplexes; polycation; siRNA