Development of Asymmetric Liposomal Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of siRNA to Silence Gene Expression

摘要

It is estimated that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Advances in the molecular understanding of HCC have raised the possibility of silencing cyclin D1 gene expression, which is over-expressed in HCC, by cyclin D1 specific siRNAs. This approach might provide an improved therapy over less effective and toxic systemic therapies. Yet the targeted delivery of siRNA to HCC is challenging since conventional techniques using liposomes and cationic polymers have low encapsulation efficiencies and/or high toxicity. The goal of this study is to develop asymmetric liposomal nanoparticles to overcome these deficiencies.