Enhanced siRNA delivery with novel smart chitosan-based formulations

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Conventional cancer treatments lack specificity, leading to adverse side effects.
• Developing targeted delivery systems is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
• Precise delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) can enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create an innovative, multifunctional, and dual-responsive formulation for targeted siRNA delivery to breast cancer.
• To address the limitations of non-specific conventional cancer treatments.
• To leverage gold-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-SPIONs) within chitosan microspheres for enhanced drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of chitosan microspheres incorporating Au-SPIONs and loaded with siRNA.
• Characterization using SEM, TEM, DLS, FTIR, and EDS.
• Evaluation of siRNA encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity.
• Assessment of drug release profiles under varying conditions.

Main Results:

• Characterization confirmed favorable morphology, particle size, composition, and stability.
• SiRNA encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 27.4% to 88.6%, with higher values for medium molecular weight chitosan.
• Chitosan type and crosslinker concentration significantly influenced encapsulation and release.
• The formulation exhibited dual pH-responsive and magnetic properties for targeted release.

Conclusions:

• The developed Au-SPIONs/chitosan microsphere formulation shows strong potential for effective siRNA drug delivery.
• The dual-responsive system enables magnetically driven, site-specific delivery and targeted release.
• This approach offers a novel strategy for advancing targeted breast cancer therapies.