Novel lipoidal amine-based nanocarrier formulations for siRNA delivery

Fatty acid modified octa-arginine for delivery of siRNA

Therapeutic delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a major challenge that limits its potential clinical application. Four fatty acids derivatives of octa-arginine (R8) were synthesized and evaluated for the delivery of siRNA into hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 and human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The results showed that the long chain acid oleic acid or stearic acid derivatives of R8, OA-R8 and StA-R8, were more efficient in siRNA complexation and form nanoparticles with greater stability compared to the native R8. Cellular uptake of fluorescence-labeled siRNA delivered by OA-R8 and StA-R8 in Hep G2 and A549 cells was substantially 40-50 times higher than unmodified R8. A significant reduction in siRNA cellular uptake was observed in the presence of sucrose and cytochalasin D, indicating endocytosis as a primary mechanism of cellular entry. A survivin siRNA was used to prepare nanoparticles with OA-R8 or StA-R8 and evaluated for silencing of survivin mRNA and protein in A549 cells, and the inhibition efficiencies of survivin protein reached to 50.3% and 54.6%, respectively. The results showed greater effectiveness with the derivatized R8. Taken together, these findings showed that long chain fatty acid derivatives of R8 are efficient delivery agents for siRNA and may facilitate its therapeutic application.

Comparative cellular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of siRNA delivery by SPANosomes and by cationic liposomes

Mechanistic understanding of intracellular trafficking is important for the development of small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vehicles. Here, we describe a novel methodology to quantitatively analyze nanocarrier-mediated disposition of siRNA. Cellular uptake and cytoplasmic release of siRNA over time were quantified by measuring the fluorescence intensities of fluorescently-labeled siRNAs and molecular beacons using flow cytometry. This method was used to investigate the cellular pharmacokinetics (PK) of siRNA delivery by SPANosomes (SP) and by cationic liposomes (CL). The results showed that the superior pharmacodynamic (PD) response of SP was because it enhanced transport of siRNA into the cytoplasm compared to the CL. The divergent cellular pharmacokinetic profiles of the two formulations were associated with different cellular entry pathways. These findings can facilitate the rational design of more efficient siRNA delivery vehicles in the future.

FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR

In this paper the authors describe a novel methodology to quantitatively analyze nanocarrier-mediated disposition of small interfering RNA, comparing SPANosomes with cationic liposomes as delivery systems with different entry pathways.