title: Chemically Modified Dendritic Starch: A Novel Nanomaterial for siRNA Delivery.
abstract: Nanostructured starches are naturally derived nanomaterials that can be chemically modified to allow for the introduction of functional groups, enhancing their potential for drug delivery and other biotechnology applications. In this proof of concept study, we investigate chemically modified, enzymatically synthesized glycogen (ESG) nanodendrites as a biodegradable, biocompatible, siRNA delivery system. Commercially available ESG was modified using glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMA), introducing quaternary ammonium groups via an epoxide ring opening reaction. This cationic ESG (cESG) electrostatically bound siRNA and successfully knocked down protein expression in an in vitro ovarian clear cell carcinoma model. The construct exhibited sustained siRNA delivery for up to 6 days while exhibiting less toxicity than a common liposome-based siRNA delivery reagent, Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. These promising results set the stage for the use of dendritic starch as a cost-effective, easily modifiable nanoscale delivery system for a diverse range of cargo including nucleic acids and therapeutic compounds.
authors.affiliation: †Nanobioscience Constellation, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, New York 12203, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Engelberth
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.affiliation: †Nanobioscience Constellation, College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, New York 12203, United States.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergkvist
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002412:Cations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D006003:Glycogen; D008081:Liposomes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D013213:Starch; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2; C045006:glycidyl trimethylammonium