Silver Nanoparticles Modified by Carbosilane Dendrons and PEG as Delivery Vectors of Small Interfering RNA

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
• Gene therapy using small interfering RNA (siRNA) offers potential for targeting mutant proteins.
• Effective delivery of siRNA to target cells is a critical challenge in gene therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dendronized and PEGylated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as vectors for proapoptotic siRNA (siMCL-1).
• To evaluate the stability and delivery efficiency of siRNA-AgNP complexes.
• To assess the therapeutic efficacy of these complexes in inducing tumor cell death.

Main Methods:

• Complex formation was confirmed using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, and circular dichroism.
• siRNA delivery efficiency was quantified using multicolor flow cytometry.
• Apoptosis-induced cell death was analyzed following treatment with AgNP-siMCL-1 complexes.

Main Results:

• Stable complexes of siRNA and AgNPs were successfully formed.
• AgNPs demonstrated efficient siRNA delivery (up to 90%) to tumor cells, influenced by PEGylation degree.
• Specific AgNP-siMCL-1 complexes induced approximately 70% apoptosis in treated tumor cell populations.

Conclusions:

• Dendronized and PEGylated silver nanoparticles are effective carriers for siRNA in cancer gene therapy.
• AgNP-mediated siRNA delivery can significantly induce apoptosis in tumor cells.
• Optimized AgNP formulations hold promise for developing advanced cancer treatments.