Intravenous lipid-siRNA conjugate mediates gene silencing at the blood-brain barrier and blood-CSF barrier

Barriers of the central nervous system (CNS), such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), regulate the two-way exchange of material between the blood and CNS. While the BBB and BCSFB can become dysfunctional in patients with chronic CNS diseases, few studies have focused on strategies for targeting these interfaces. Here, we showed that an intravenously administered lipid-siRNA conjugate was delivered to and silenced genes within brain endothelial cells and choroid plexus epithelial cells, which comprise the BBB and BCSFB, respectively. A single intravenous dose of lipid-siRNA conjugate was delivered to ∼100 % of brain endothelial cells and major choroid plexus cell types, without substantial delivery into brain parenchymal tissue. Sustained mRNA and protein silencing was achieved in both brain endothelial cells and bulk choroid plexus tissues. Moreover, single cell RNA sequencing demonstrated gene knockdown in capillaries, venous endothelial cells, and choroid plexus epithelial cells without silencing genes in parenchymal cell populations. Collectively, this work establishes an effective nonviral framework to mediate gene inhibition in the brain barriers.