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Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Preparation of Exosomes for siRNA Delivery to Cancer Cells
Published on: December 5, 2018
Encapsulation of miRNA and siRNA into Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapeutics
Mina Zare1,2, Rakesh Pemmada3, Maya Madhavan4
1Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117581, Singapore.
Abstract:
Globally, cancer is amongst the most deadly diseases due to the low efficiency of the conventional and obsolete chemotherapeutic methodologies and their many downsides. The poor aqueous solubility of most anticancer medications and their low biocompatibility make them ineligible candidates for the design of delivery systems. A significant drawback associated with chemotherapy is that there are no advanced solutions to multidrug resistance, which poses a major obstacle in cancer management. Since RNA interference (RNAi) can repress the expression of genes, it is viewed as a novel tool for advanced drug delivery. this is being explored as a promising drug targeting strategy for the treatment of multiple diseases, including cancer. However, there are many obstructions that hinder the clinical uses of siRNA drugs due to their low permeation into cells, off-target impacts, and possible unwanted immune responses under physiological circumstances. Thus, in this article, we review the design measures for siRNA conveyance frameworks and potential siRNA and miRNA drug delivery systems for malignant growth treatment, including the use of liposomes, dendrimers, and micelle-based nanovectors and functional polymer-drug delivery systems. This article sums up the advancements and challenges in the use of nanocarriers for siRNA delivery and remarkably centers around the most critical modification strategies for nanocarriers to build multifunctional siRNA and miRNA delivery vectors. In short, we hope this review will throw light on the dark areas of RNA interference, which will further open novel research arenas in the development of RNAi drugs for cancer.
Insights
RNA interference (RNAi) offers a novel strategy for cancer treatment, overcoming chemotherapy limitations. This review explores nanocarrier systems for enhanced delivery of RNAi therapeutics, addressing challenges like cell permeation and immune response.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Conventional chemotherapy faces challenges including low drug solubility, poor biocompatibility, and multidrug resistance.
- RNA interference (RNAi) presents a promising gene-silencing approach for targeted cancer therapy.
- Clinical application of small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs is limited by poor cellular uptake, off-target effects, and immunogenicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in nanocarrier-based delivery systems for RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics.
- To explore the design strategies for multifunctional siRNA and microRNA (miRNA) delivery vectors for cancer treatment.
- To highlight challenges and future research directions in RNAi drug development for oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on nanocarrier systems for RNAi delivery.
- Analysis of various nanovectors including liposomes, dendrimers, and micelle-based systems.
- Examination of functional polymer-drug delivery systems for RNAi therapeutics.
Main Results:
- Nanocarriers like liposomes, dendrimers, and micelles show potential for improved siRNA delivery.
- Modification strategies for nanocarriers are crucial for developing multifunctional RNAi delivery vectors.
- Functional polymers offer versatile platforms for targeted RNAi drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Nanocarrier systems are vital for overcoming the limitations of siRNA drugs in cancer therapy.
- Strategic modification of nanocarriers can enhance the efficacy and safety of RNAi therapeutics.
- Further research into RNAi delivery systems is essential for advancing cancer treatment.
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