Bin Zheng1, Shuang Yang1, Mengqiao Wang1, Xuewei Yang1, Lirong Teng1, Jing Xie1, Lesheng Teng2, Robert J Lee3. 1. College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China. 2. College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China lee.1339@osu.edu tenglesheng@jlu.edu.cn. 3. College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, U.S.A. lee.1339@osu.edu tenglesheng@jlu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Efficient delivery of siRNA is critical for its therapeutic applications. This study was aimed at the design, synthesis and evaluation of a novel delivery system based on non-covalent complexes of folic acid (FA) and a reducible polyethylenimine (PEI) derivative, PEI-SS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PEI-SS was synthesized by crosslinking low-molecular weight PEI using a reducible crosslinking agent. PEI-SS-siRNA complexes were synthesized and further combined with FA to form FA/PEI-SS-siRNA nanocomplexes. These were then evaluated in two tumor cell lines for survivin siRNA delivery. RESULTS: FA/PEI-SS-siRNA complexes were taken-up by both HeLa and A549 cells efficiently. This was not affected by the expression level of the folate receptor on the tumor cell surface. Furthermore, FA/PEI-SS-siRNA complexes reduced the level of survivin expression in both cell lines. CONCLUSION: FA/PEI-SS is a potent siRNA carrier that warrants further evaluation. Copyright
BACKGROUND/AIM: Efficient delivery of siRNA is critical for its therapeutic applications. This study was aimed at the design, synthesis and evaluation of a novel delivery system based on non-covalent complexes of folic acid (FA) and a reducible polyethylenimine (PEI) derivative, PEI-SS. MATERIALS AND METHODS:PEI-SS was synthesized by crosslinking low-molecular weight PEI using a reducible crosslinking agent. PEI-SS-siRNA complexes were synthesized and further combined with FA to form FA/PEI-SS-siRNA nanocomplexes. These were then evaluated in two tumor cell lines for survivin siRNA delivery. RESULTS: FA/PEI-SS-siRNA complexes were taken-up by both HeLa and A549 cells efficiently. This was not affected by the expression level of the folate receptor on the tumor cell surface. Furthermore, FA/PEI-SS-siRNA complexes reduced the level of survivin expression in both cell lines. CONCLUSION: FA/PEI-SS is a potent siRNA carrier that warrants further evaluation. Copyright