Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...

RNA Interference

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

Experimental RNAi

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A novel bivalent neoantigen vaccine based on mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles eradicates hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2026

Same author

Lipid nanoparticles containing zwitterionic lipids versatilely enhance the efficiency of mRNA delivery.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2026

Same author

Mitochondria-targeted coenzyme Q<sub>10</sub> nanocarriers evaluated by particle size and lipid composition alleviate early acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2026

Same author

Examining the Impact of Storage Conditions on the Stability of a Liquid Formulation of mRNA-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles.

Pharmaceutics·2025

Same author

Lipid nanoparticle delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system directly into the mitochondria of cells carrying m.7778G>T mutation in MtDNA (mt-Atp8).

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

Microfluidic Production of Exosome-Mimicking Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhanced RNA Delivery: Role of Exosomal Proteins.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Published on: January 15, 2015

Octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device for siRNA.

Yoshio Nakamura¹, Kentaro Kogure, Shiroh Futaki

¹Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-12, Nishi-6, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.

Journal of Controlled Release : Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society

|May 5, 2007

Summary

Octaarginine-modified multifunctional envelope-type nano device (R8-MEND) efficiently packages and delivers small interfering RNA (siRNA) into cells. This novel non-viral gene delivery system demonstrates potent gene silencing with minimal cytotoxicity.

More Related Videos

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery

Published on: April 16, 2019

Preparation of Multifunctional Silk-Based Microcapsules Loaded with DNA Plasmids Encoding RNA Aptamers and Riboswitches

Preparation of Multifunctional Silk-Based Microcapsules Loaded with DNA Plasmids Encoding RNA Aptamers and Riboswitches

Published on: October 8, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Published on: January 15, 2015

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery

Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery

Published on: April 16, 2019

Preparation of Multifunctional Silk-Based Microcapsules Loaded with DNA Plasmids Encoding RNA Aptamers and Riboswitches

Preparation of Multifunctional Silk-Based Microcapsules Loaded with DNA Plasmids Encoding RNA Aptamers and Riboswitches

Published on: October 8, 2021

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Nanomedicine
Gene Therapy

Background:

Multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) is a non-viral gene delivery system for plasmid DNA (pDNA) and oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN).
Octaarginine-modified MEND (R8-MEND) previously showed high transfection activity and low cytotoxicity via macropinocytosis.
Efficient cytosolic release of condensed DNA core was previously demonstrated.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop an efficient method for packaging small interfering RNA (siRNA) into R8-MEND.
To compare the gene silencing efficacy of siRNA-loaded R8-MEND with a commercial transfection reagent (TransIT-TKO).

Main Methods:

Screening of polycations (poly-l-lysine, stearyl octaarginine, protamine) for siRNA condensation by measuring particle size and zeta-potential.
Packaging of siRNA into R8-MEND using stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8).
Assessment of gene silencing efficacy by measuring luciferase activity in HeLa cells stably expressing luciferase.

Main Results:

Stearyl octaarginine (STR-R8) was the only polycation capable of condensing siRNA into nanoparticles (<100 nm).
siRNA-loaded R8-MEND inhibited luciferase activity by over 80% in HeLa cells.
R8-MEND facilitated efficient cellular internalization and cytoplasmic release of siRNA, leading to potent gene silencing with minimal cytotoxicity.

Conclusions:

R8-MEND provides an effective platform for siRNA delivery, achieving significant and sustained gene silencing.
The developed R8-MEND system offers a promising non-viral alternative for gene therapy applications with reduced toxicity.