Specific Delivery of MiRNA for High Efficient Inhibition of Prostate Cancer by RNA Nanotechnology

Mol Ther. 2016 Aug;24(7):1267-77. doi: 10.1038/mt.2016.85. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Abstract

Both siRNA and miRNA can serve as powerful gene-silencing reagents but their specific delivery to cancer cells in vivo without collateral damage to healthy cells remains challenging. We report here the application of RNA nanotechnology for specific and efficient delivery of anti-miRNA seed-targeting sequence to block the growth of prostate cancer in mouse models. Utilizing the thermodynamically ultra-stable three-way junction of the pRNA of phi29 DNA packaging motor, RNA nanoparticles were constructed by bottom-up self-assembly containing the anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) RNA aptamer as a targeting ligand and anti-miR17 or anti-miR21 as therapeutic modules. The 16 nm RNase-resistant and thermodynamically stable RNA nanoparticles remained intact after systemic injection in mice and strongly bound to tumors with little or no accumulation in healthy organs 8 hours postinjection, and subsequently repressed tumor growth at low doses with high efficiency.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Nanoparticles
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy
  • RNA Interference*
  • Thermodynamics
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MicroRNAs