PEG conjugated VEGF siRNA for anti-angiogenic gene therapy

J Control Release. 2006 Nov 28;116(2):123-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2006.05.023. Epub 2006 Jun 3.

Abstract

A novel siRNA delivery system based on polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) micelles was introduced in this study. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) siRNA was conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) via a disulfide linkage (siRNA-PEG). The siRNA-PEG conjugate could form PEC micelles by interacting with cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) as a core forming agent. The VEGF siRNA-PEG/PEI PEC micelles showed greater stability than naked VEGF siRNA against enzymatic degradation. Under a reductive condition similar to cytosolic environment, an intact form of siRNA was released from the siRNA-PEG conjugate by cleavage of the disulfide linkage. The VEGF siRNA-PEG/PEI PEC micelles effectively silenced VEGF gene expression in prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3) up to 96.5% under an optimized formulation condition. They also showed a far superior VEGF gene silencing effect than VEGF siRNA/PEI complexes even in the presence of serum. This study suggests that the siRNA delivery system using VEGF siRNA-PEG/PEI PEC micelles could be potentially applied to RNAi-based anti-angiogenic treatment of cancer in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disulfides / metabolism
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Micelles
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Disulfides
  • Micelles
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • monomethoxypolyethylene glycol
  • Glutathione