title: Selective nuclear localization of siRNA by metallic versus semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes in keratinocytes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The potential use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in gene therapy as delivery systems for nucleic acids has been recently recognized. Here, we describe that metallic versus semiconducting single-wall CNTs can produce significant differences in transfection rate and cellular distribution of siRNA in murine PAM212 keratinocytes.
  The results of cell interaction studies, coupled with supportive computational simulations and ultrastructural studies revealed that the use of metallic single wall CNTs resulted in siRNA delivery into both the cytoplasm and nucleus of keratinocytes, whereas semiconducting CNTs resulted in delivery only to the cytoplasm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using enriched fractions of metallic or semiconducting CNTs for siRNA complex preparation may provide specific subcellular targeting advantages.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: John Torin
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Huzil
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saliaj
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Marina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharagozloo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria Jimena
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamprecht
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korinek
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Ding Wen
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foldvari
keywords: chirality; drug delivery; keratinocytes; metallic nanotubes; semiconducting nanotubes; siRNA transfection; single wall carbon nanotubes