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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Preparation of Neutrally-charged, pH-responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Cytosolic siRNA Delivery
Published on: May 2, 2019
Enhanced siRNA delivery using oleic acid derivative of polyethylenimine
Lesheng Teng1, Jing Xie, Lirong Teng
1Institute of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China.
Background:
RNA interference has promising therapeutic potential. However, safe and efficacious delivery systems are necessary for its application in the clinic.
Materials And Methods:
An oleic acid (OA) derivative of branched polyethylenimine (PEI, M.W. 2000 Da), PEI-OA, was synthesized and evaluated for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery in SK-HEP-1 liver cancer cells stably transfected with luciferase. The physiochemical properties of PEI-OA/siRNA complexes, their cellular uptake, gene silencing activity based on luciferase reporter gene down-regulation, and cytotoxicity were investigated.
Results:
PEI-OA complexes effectively delivered siRNA into SK-HEP-1 cells and efficiently induced down-regulation of luciferase reporter gene expression. Compared with free siRNA and PEI/siRNA, PEI-OA/siRNA was significantly more effective, reducing luciferase activity by ~50%.
Conclusion:
PEI-OA warrants further evaluation for therapeutic delivery of siRNA.

