Cationic Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) Materials as a Multifunctional Platform for Light-Enhanced siRNA Delivery.

In this work, a multifunctional platform based on the versatile function of cationic poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivative has been developed for white light-enhanced siRNA delivery in a remote control manner. Conjugated polyelectrolyte PPV, which possesses cationic and amphipathic features, can effectively self-assemble with siRNA and deliver siRNA into living cells. More importantly, PPV can sensitize surrounding oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon exposure to white light and disrupt the endosomal membrane, and the resulting enhanced endosomal escape increases the gene silencing ability of siRNA. Besides, due to high fluorescent emission, PPV can also be used to image the siRNA delivery and intracelluar location. Therefore, by taking full advantage of PPV, this strategy provides a new enhanced siRNA delivery in a non-invasive and spatiotemporal photochemical manner.