Cationic lipid nanoemulsions for RNAi screening

摘要

Since the discovery of RNA interference, many efforts have been made to broaden perspectives of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in research and clinical work. siRNA shows a specific and effective gene silencing activity through a sequence specific down-regulation of the complementary messenger RNA as well as a tremendous potential as therapeutic agent for treatment of numerous diseases. However, the siRNA-mediated gene knock down requires that siRNA can reach the cytoplasm, where mRNA interference mechanism occurs. Unfortunately, the siRNA is relatively vulnerable in the extracellular environment due to the presence of degradation enzymes and its high molecular weight associated to its anionic charge limit considerably its cell incorporation across the. plasma membrane. To overcome these obstacles, multifunctional nanoparticles comprising an imaging contrast agent are emerging as an original and promising approach in the improved and monitored delivery of siRNA.