Cationic Lipid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient and Non-Cytotoxic Intracellular siRNA Delivery Vehicles

• Published in: Pharmaceutical research Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 362 - 374
• Main Authors: Kong, Won Ho, Bae, Ki Hyun, Jo, Sung Duk, Kim, Jee Seon, Park, Tae Gwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.02.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; Cations - chemistry; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cytotoxicity; General pharmacology; Gold - chemistry; Humans; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Medical Law; Medical sciences; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; Polyethyleneimine - chemistry; Research Paper; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering - administration & dosage; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; cancer therapy; delivery system; siRNA; cationic lipid; gold nanoparticle; Delivery system; Gold; Intracellular transport; RNA interference; Pharmaceutical technology; Nanoparticle; cationiclipid; Cytotoxicity; Lipids; Metal particle; Gene silencing; cancertherapy; Microparticle; Cations
• ISSN: 0724-8741; 1573-904X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11095-011-0554-y

ABSTRACT Purpose Cationic lipid-coated gold nanoparticles were developed for efficient intracellular delivery of therapeutic siRNA. Methods Particle formation was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Cellular uptake, gene silencing effect, and cytotoxicity were investigated in multiple human cancer cell lines. Results Nanoparticles had a spherical nanostructure with highly cationic surface charge and could form stable nanosized polyelectrolyte complexes with siRNA via electrostatic interactions; complexes exhibited efficient intracellular uptake and significant gene silencing effect with markedly low cytotoxicity compared to the widely used polycationic carrier, linear polyethyleneimine. Conclusions We demonstrated that cationic lipid-coated gold nanoparticles could be widely utilized as efficient and safe siRNA nanocarriers for diverse therapeutic and diagnostic applications.