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

Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers

Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers

Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted

Site-targeted drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity and treatment costs. Unlike conventional methods, these systems ensure precise drug delivery, improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. Targeted drug delivery is classified into three levels. First-order targeting directs drugs to the capillary beds of specific organs or tissues. Second-order targets specific cell types, such as tumor cells, using receptor-mediated interactions.

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...

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...

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

Stimuli-activated drug delivery systems are designed to release drugs in response to specific physical, chemical, or biological stimuli. These systems often utilize hydrogels—three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer networks capable of swelling in aqueous environments and retaining significant fluid volumes. Upon exposure to particular stimuli, these hydrogels undergo structural transitions that allow the embedded drug to be released. Due to this adaptive behavior, such systems are also called...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Publisher's Note: "Transmission and fluorescence X-ray absorption spectroscopy cell/flow reactor for powder samples under vacuum or in reactive atmospheres" [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 87, 073108 (2016)].

The Review of scientific instruments·2017

Same author

Transmission and fluorescence X-ray absorption spectroscopy cell/flow reactor for powder samples under vacuum or in reactive atmospheres.

The Review of scientific instruments·2016

Same author

Nanoparticle distribution during systemic inflammation is size-dependent and organ-specific.

Nanoscale·2015

Same author

Dynamic intracellular delivery of antibiotics via pH-responsive polymersomes.

Polymer chemistry·2015

Same author

Well-defined single polymer nanoparticles for the antibody-targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

Polymer chemistry·2015

Same author

Invasion of Wolbachia at the residential block level is associated with local abundance of Stegomyia aegypti, yellow fever mosquito, populations and property attributes.

Medical and veterinary entomology·2014

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Published on: January 15, 2015

pH-responsive polymeric micelle carriers for siRNA drugs.

A J Convertine¹, C Diab, M Prieve

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle Washington 98195, and PhaseRx, Inc., 410 West Harrison Street, Suite 300, Seattle Washington 98119.

Biomacromolecules

|October 5, 2010

Summary

New diblock copolymers form micelles for enhanced small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery, improving gene silencing efficiency and cellular uptake for potential RNA interference therapies.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery

Published on: May 2, 2019

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Published on: March 2, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics

Published on: January 15, 2015

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery

Published on: May 2, 2019

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Assembly and Characterization of Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Published on: March 2, 2020

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Polymer Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Background:

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds promise for gene silencing therapies.
Efficient intracellular delivery of siRNA into the cytoplasm is a major hurdle.
Previous diblock copolymer carriers were synthesized using RAFT polymerization.

Purpose of the Study:

Develop a new generation of siRNA delivery polymers with improved transfection efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity.
Incorporate a longer, more hydrophobic endosomolytic block to induce micelle formation.
Enhance the self-assembly of diblock copolymers for superior siRNA delivery.

Main Methods:

Synthesized diblock copolymers with a cationic DMAEMA block and a pH-responsive DMAEMA/PAA/BMA block.
Characterized self-assembled micelles using DLS, 1H NMR, electron microscopy, and pyrene partitioning.
Assessed siRNA binding, micelle stability, and particle size.
Evaluated mRNA knockdown (GAPDH) at various siRNA concentrations.
Quantified cellular uptake using flow cytometry with fluorescently labeled siRNA.

Main Results:

Polymers spontaneously formed 40 nm spherical micelles with a low CMC of ~2 microg/mL.
siRNA binding to the cationic shell did not destabilize micelles or significantly increase particle size.
Micelle-based systems achieved 89% GAPDH mRNA reduction at 12.5 nM siRNA, compared to 23% for non-micelle systems.
Near-quantitative mRNA reduction was observed at siRNA concentrations of 25 nM and higher.
Flow cytometry showed 90% cellular uptake and 3-fold higher siRNA per cell compared to lipid agents.

Conclusions:

The novel diblock copolymer design effectively forms micelles for enhanced siRNA delivery.
These micelle-based carriers demonstrate superior mRNA knockdown efficiency and cellular uptake.
The developed system shows significant potential for advancing siRNA-based therapeutics.