Multifunctional magnetic nanocarriers for delivery of siRNA and shRNA plasmid to mammalian cells: Characterization, adsorption and release behaviors

Chi Hsien Liu*, Cheng Han Lin, Yi Jun Chen, Wei Chi Wu, Chun Chao Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nucleic acids are promising candidates for treating various diseases. Nucleic acid is negatively charged and hydrophilic; therefore, it is not efficiently taken up by cells. Successful gene therapy requires the development of carriers for efficient delivery of gene-expressing DNA plasmid and small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplex. In this study, we developed MNP-CA-PEI, a citric acid (CA)-modified magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) cross-linked with polyethyleneimine (PEI), using carbonyldiimidazole as the crosslinker. The physical properties of MNP-CA-PEI (particle size, morphologies, surface coating, surface potentials, magnetic hystereses, superparamagnetic behaviors, and infrared spectra) were systematically characterized by transmission electron microscopy imaging, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, superconducting quantum interference device, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics were determined by the Langmuir model, the Freundlich model, a pseudo-first-order equation, and a pseudo-second-order equation. MNP-CA-PEI could form polyelectrolyte complexes with negatively charged nucleic acids, enabling the efficient delivery of nucleic acids into cells. Using MNP-CA-PEI nanoparticles, we magnetically triggered the intracellular delivery of green fluorescence protein (GFP)-expressing DNA plasmid, plasmid-expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against GFP, or siRNA targeting GFP into different cell lines. Nucleic acid/MNP-CA-PEI displayed the enhanced cellular uptake of GFP-expressing DNA plasmid, and it improved the silencing efficiency of shRNA and siRNA, determined by fluorescence imaging. Gene knockdowns mediated by shRNA and siRNA were also confirmed by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. MNP-CA-PEI delivered nucleic acids into cytosol through caveolae-mediated endocytosis. This study introduces a new MNP functionalization that can be used for the magnetically driven intracellular delivery of nucleic acids.

Original languageEnglish
Article number112861
JournalColloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
Volume219
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

  • Delivery
  • Magnetofection
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • ShRNA
  • SiRNA

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Multifunctional magnetic nanocarriers for delivery of siRNA and shRNA plasmid to mammalian cells: Characterization, adsorption and release behaviors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this