Cationic Polymer Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted SiRNA Delivery to HER2+ Breast Cancer

In vivo delivery of siRNAs designed to inhibit genes important in cancer and other diseases continues to be an important biomedical goal. We now describe a new nanoparticle construct that has been engineered for efficient delivery of siRNA to tumors. The construct is comprised of a 47-nm mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSNP) core coated with a cross-linked PEI-PEG copolymer, carrying siRNA against the HER2 oncogene, and coupled to the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab). The construct has been engineered to increase siRNA blood half-life, enhance tumor-specific cellular uptake, and maximize siRNA knockdown efficacy. The optimized anti-HER2-nanoparticles produced apoptotic death in HER2 positive (HER2⁺) breast cancer cells grown in vitro, but not in HER2 negative (HER2^-) cells. One dose of the siHER2-nanoparticles reduced HER2 protein levels by 60% in trastuzumab-resistant HCC1954 xenografts. Multiple doses administered intravenously over 3 weeks significantly inhibited tumor growth (p < 0.004). The siHER2-nanoparticles have an excellent safety profile in terms of blood compatibility and low cytokine induction, when exposed to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The construct can be produced with high batch-to-batch reproducibility and the production methods are suitable for large-scale production. These results suggest that this siHER2-nanoparticle is ready for clinical evaluation.