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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery
Published on: May 2, 2019
The first targeted delivery of siRNA in humans via a self-assembling, cyclodextrin polymer-based nanoparticle: from
1California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA. mdavis@cheme.caltech.edu
Abstract:
Experimental therapeutics developed to exploit RNA interference (RNAi) are now in clinical studies. Here, the translation from concept to clinic for the first experimental therapeutic to provide targeted delivery of synthetic, small interfering RNA (siRNA) in humans is described. This targeted, nanoparticle formulation of siRNA, denoted as CALAA-01, consists of a cyclodextrin-containing polymer (CDP), a polythethylene glycol (PEG) steric stabilization agent, and human transferrin (Tf) as a targeting ligand for binding to transferrin receptors (TfR) that are typically upregulated on cancer cells. The four component formulation is self-assembled into nanoparticles in the pharmacy and administered intravenously (iv) to patients. The designed features of this experimental therapeutic are described, and their functions illustrated.
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