Cationic nanohydrogel particles as potential siRNA carriers for cellular delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Gene Therapy

Background:

• Oligonucleotides like short interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmid DNA (pDNA) hold significant potential for gene therapy applications.
• Effective pharmaceutical delivery requires suitable drug carriers, with nanosized hydrogel particles emerging as promising candidates for siRNA transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for synthesizing polymeric cationic nanohydrogels.
• To create a new platform for complexing and delivering siRNA into cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of amphiphilic reactive ester block copolymers via RAFT polymerization.
• Self-assembly of polymers in solution to form nanometer-sized aggregates.
• Covalent stabilization of aggregates into nanohydrogel particles using amine-containing cross-linkers.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized and characterized cationic nanohydrogel particles.
• Demonstrated permanent locking of aggregate structures, enabling precise nanohydrogel size control.
• Utilized reactive ester functionality to attach fluorescent dyes for tracking complexation and cellular uptake.
• Confirmed successful cellular uptake of both the nanohydrogels and their siRNA payload.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides a new route for precise synthesis of functionalized nanohydrogels.
• These cationic nanohydrogel particles represent a promising new platform for efficient siRNA delivery systems in gene therapy.