Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been used to treat various skin diseases. However, siRNA is limited in application due to its electronegativity, strong polarity, easy degradation by nuclease and difficulty in breaking through the skin barrier. Therefore, safe and efficient siRNA delivery vector is the premise of effective treatment of skin diseases by siRNA. In recent years, with the deepening of research on siRNA, great progress has been made in the development of delivery systems based on lipids, polymers, peptides and nanoparticles, some new transdermal delivery vectors of siRNA have emerged, such as liposomes, dendrimers, cell penetrating peptides, and spherical nucleic acid nanoparticles. This review will focus on the recent advance in siRNA transdermal delivery vectors.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Genetic Vectors ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; Skin Diseases ; therapy

RNA interference (RNAi), as a new technology of gene therapy, has been used in the studies of many diseases in vitro, however, targeting delivery of small interference RNA (siRNA) is still a bottleneck for clinical therapy of siRNA agents. Aptamer is a group of oligonucleotides with high affinity and targeting, and is becoming another important means of delivery for siRNA. In this review, we summarized siRNA delivery obstacles in vivo and recent attractive developments increatively using cell-internalizing aptamers to deliver siRNAs to target cells.
Aptamers, Nucleotide ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; SELEX Aptamer Technique

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful endogenous process initiated by short double stranded RNAs, which results in sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing. Because any protein that causes or contributes to a disease is susceptible to RNAi, the RNAi has high potential for therapeutic treatments. In a clinical setting, however, there are many obstacles to targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in vivo, specificity and stability of the RNAi reagents. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the development of efficient siRNA delivery vehicles to help the application of siRNA to in vivo therapy.
Drug Carriers ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Humans ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; methods ; trends ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Current trends in nanotechnology and RNA interference technology have made the application of nanocarriers (NCS) as a novel gene and drug delivery systems very promising for the field of multidrug resistance (MDR) cancer treatment. Co-delivery of gene and chemotherapy drugs with NCS has a good synergistic effect compared with the traditional chemotherapy which can increase the amount of the drug distribution in target organ in order to reduce the toxic side effects thereby enhancing efficacy. Therefore, the advent of co-delivery systems with NCS especially in the clinical treatment of MDR has had a significant impact on the cancer treatment.
Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; therapy ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics

Hela is the cell line of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix, and human papillomavirus (HPV) 18 shows positive. We delivered siRNA with target specifically to HPV18 E7 mRNA into nude mice Hela tumor xenografts by nanopatch to inhibit the HPV gene expression, and further to study the superiority, the best action time and concentration of siRNA of using nanopatch to transfer siRNA in vivo. We designed siRNA that target specifically to HPV18 E7 mRNA (siE7) and checked the effect of siE7 in vitro. Tumor xenografts were transfected with siE7 and GenEscort III by nanopatch. Expression of HPV18 E7 mRNA and protein were detected 0 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours after transfection with PT-PCR and Western blot, and the best action time was analyzed using nanopatch to thansfect siRNA in vivo. We transfected GenEscort III and siE7 of Different concentration into tumor xenografts respectively by nanopatch and intraperitoneal injection. Expression of HPV18 E7 mRNA and protein was detected 72 hours after transfection by PT-PCR and Western blot, to analyze the best action concentration of siRNA and the superiority of using nanopatch to thansfect siRNA in vivo. The results proved that SiE7was efficient to inhibit expression of HPV18 E7 mRNA and to advance Hela apoptosis in vitro. SiE7 transfected by nanopatch into xenografts could inhibit effectively expression of HPV18 E7 mRNA and protein. The best action time and concentration of siRNA of using nanopatch to thansfect siRNA in vivo are 72 hour post-transfection and 2 micromol/L siE7. To compare intraperitoneal injection in delivering siRNA in vivo, the effect of nanopatch is very predominant. It can be well concluded that Nanopatch can effectively transfer siRNA in vivo, which can effectively inhibit the HPV gene expression.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Nanostructures ; administration & dosage ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomaviridae ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; Transfection ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; therapy ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

RNA interference (RNAi) is a newly developed technology. It is the different levels of gene silencing induced by specific degradation of targeted genes in vivo, and both exogenous and endogenous double-stranded RNAs could induce the specific degradation. RNAi has been applied in tumor therapy, viral infection, hepatitis B and many other diseases. siRNA is the effector molecule which induces the RNAi in vivo. But naked siRNA is easily degradated by RNases in vivo, and the half-life is short. Meanwhile, the transfection efficiency of the naked siRNA is comparatively low. So the naked siRNA needs the help of vectors to penetrate the cell membrane and take action. Viral vectors have the potential immunogenicity and mutagenicity in gene therapy. Therefore, non-viral vectors are drawing more and more attention. The latest development of the non-viral vectors is summarized in this review.
Animals ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Genetic Vectors ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Imines ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Polyethylenes ; chemistry ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Transfection

Pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with very low survival rates (1%). It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Hyperactivated growth hormone receptor (GHR) levels have been shown to increase the risk of cancer in general and this pathway is a master regulator of key cellular functions like proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metastasis, etc. However, to date there is no available data on how GHR promotes pancreatic cancer pathogenesis. Here, we used an RNA interference approach targeted to GHR to determine whether targeting GHR is an effective method for controlling pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis. For this, we used an in vitro model system consisting of HPAC and PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells lines. GHR is upregulated in both of these cell lines and silencing GHR significantly reduced cell proliferation and viability. Inhibition of GHR also reduced the metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer cells, which was aided through decreased colony-forming ability and reduced invasiveness. Flow cytometric and western blot analyses revealed the induction of apoptosis in GHR silenced cells. GHR silencing affected phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/AKT, mitogen extracellular signal-regulated kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, as well as, epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Interestingly, silencing GHR also suppressed the expression of insulin receptor-beta and cyclo-oxygenease-2. Altogether, GHR silencing controls the growth and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and reveals its importance in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/*genetics/*pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis/genetics/pathology ; Pancreatic Ducts/metabolism/*pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*genetics/*pathology ; *RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/administration & dosage/genetics ; Receptors, Somatotropin/*genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in biologic properties of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells whose EGF receptor (EGFR) expression was suppressed by short interference RNA (siRNA).

METHODSA549 cells were transfected with synthetic EGFR sequence-specific siRNA by Lipofectamine. EGFR expression was examined by Western blot and flow cytometry. The biological features of the transfected A549 cells were assessed by cell cycle analysis, colony formation and chemosensitivity assay.

RESULTSSequence-specific siRNAs targeting EGFR significantly down-regulated its expression in A549 cells. Cell growth and colony formation were inhibited by 85.0% and 63.3%, respectively, as compared to the non-sequence-specific siRNA treated cells. Decreased EGFR expression was accompanied by 12.7% increase in A549 cells in G(0)-G(1) phase and 6.6% decrease in S-phase. The EGFR sequence-specific siRNA transfected A549 cells were much more sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin with a 77.2% decrease in IC(50) compared to the non-sequence-specific iRNA transfected A540 cells.

CONCLUSIONDown regulation of EGFR expression of NSCLC by sequence-specific siRNA may be considered as an additional option in the treatment of EGFR over-expressing cancers, including NSCLC.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that occurs gradually and results in memory, behavior, and personality changes. Abnormal sphingolipid metabolism was reported in AD previously. This study aimed to investigate whether sphK1 could exacerbate the accumulation of amyloid protein (Aβ) and sharpen the learning and memory ability of the animal model of AD using siRNA interference. An adenovirus vector expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the sphK1 gene (sphK1-siRNA) was designed, and the effects of sphK1-siRNA on the APP/PS1 mouse four weeks after treatment with sphK1-siRNA hippocampal injection were examined. SphK1 protein expression was confirmed by using Western blotting and ceramide content coupled with S1P secretion was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aβ load was detected by immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. Morris water maze was adopted to test the learning and memory ability of the APP/PS1 mice. A significant difference in the expression of sphK1 protein and mRNA was observed between the siRNA group and the control group. Aβ load in transfected mice was accelerated in vivo, with significant aggravation of the learning and memory ability. The sphK1 gene modulation in the Aβ load and the learning and memory ability in the animal model of AD may be important for the treatment of AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Learning Disorders ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microinjections ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this paper is to report the synthesis of the mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers as small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vector, and exploration of the siRNA delivery potential of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI in vitro. The diblock copolymers mPEG-PCL-OH was prepared through the ring-opening polymerization. Then, the hydroxyl terminal (-OH) of mPEG-PCL-OH was chemically converted into the carboxy (-COOH) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in turn to prepare mPEG-PCL-NHS. The branched PEI was reacted with mPEG-PCL-NHS to synthesize the ternary copolymers mPEG-PCL-g-PEI. The structure of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI copolymers was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were prepared by complex coacervation, and the nanoparticles size and zeta potential were determined, separately. The cytotoxicities of mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/siRNA nanoparticles and PEI/siRNA nanoparticles were compared through cells MTT assays in vitro. The inhibition efficiencies of firefly luciferase gene expression by mPEG-PCL-g-PEI/ siRNA nanoparticle at various N/P ratios were investigated through cell transfection in vitro. The experimental results suggested that the ternary (mPEG5k-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) copolymers were successfully synthesized. (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k) could condense siRNA into nanoparticles (50-200 nm) with positive zeta potential. MTT assay results showed that the cytotoxicity of (mPEG(5k)-PCL(1.2k))1.4-g-PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of PEI(10k)/siRNA nanoparticles (P < 0.05). The expression of firefly luciferase gene could be significantly down-regulated at a range of N/P ratio from 50 to 150 (P < 0.01), and maximally inhibited at the N/P ratio of 125. The mPEG-PCL-g-PEI polymers could delivery siRNA into cells to inhibit the expression of target gene with very low cytotoxicity, which suggested that mPEG-PCL-g-PEI could serve as a new type of siRNA delivery vector.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Drug Carriers ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; RNA, Small Interfering ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection