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Updated: Sep 20, 2026
Porous Silicon Microparticles for Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics
Published on: January 15, 2015
Mesoporous silica nanoparticle-modified electrode arrays of cochlear implants for delivery of siRNA-TGFβ1 into the
Anning Chen1, Yaoheng Chen1, Shixin Liu2
1Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China; Hearing Research Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Abstract:
Cochlear implants (CI) are widely used in patients to restore hearing function. Uncontrolled fibrosis in the cochleae induced by excess secretion of TGFβ1 seriously affects the effectiveness of CIs. siRNA is a potential therapeutic strategy to downregulate TGFβ1 specifically. However, treatment with siRNA in cochleae is difficult due to the poor penetration capability and instability of siRNA and the inaccessibility and vulnerability of cochleae. To address these challenges, we developed amino-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN-NH2)-modified electrode arrays to deliver siRNA-TGFβ1 into the inner ear. The shape, diameter, pore diameter, and zeta potential of MSN-NH2 were investigated. siRNA loading capability and protective effect of MSN-NH2 were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis assay. The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake assay, and TGFβ1 knockdown efficiency of MSN-NH2 were studied by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR, respectively. MSN-NH2-siTGFβ1 nanoparticles were absorbed into the electrode arrays and worked in the cochleae. MSN-NH2-siTGFβ1-modified CI electrode arrays may be an attractive therapeutic clinical intervention strategy to inhibit cochlear implantation fibrosis.
