A Rationally Optimized Nanoparticle System for the Delivery of RNA Interference Therapeutics into Pancreatic Tumors in Vivo

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Jul 11;17(7):2337-51. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00185. Epub 2016 Jun 28.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a dismal prognosis. Short-interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutics hold promise for the treatment of cancer. However, development of efficient and safe delivery vehicles for siRNA remains a challenge. Here, we describe the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of star polymers (star 1, star 2, star 3) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) for the delivery of siRNA to pancreatic cancer cells. These star polymers were designed to contain different lengths of cationic poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) side-arms and varied amounts of poly[oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (POEGMA). We showed that star-POEGMA polymers could readily self-assemble with siRNA to form nanoparticles. The star-POEGMA polymers were nontoxic to normal cells and delivered siRNA with high efficiency to pancreatic cancer cells to silence a gene (TUBB3/βIII-tubulin) which is currently undruggable using chemical agents, and is involved in regulating tumor growth and metastases. Notably, systemic administration of star-POEGMA-siRNA resulted in high accumulation of siRNA to orthotopic pancreatic tumors in mice and silenced βIII-tubulin expression by 80% at the gene and protein levels in pancreatic tumors. Together, these novel findings provide strong rationale for the use of star-POEGMA polymers as delivery vehicles for siRNA to pancreatic tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nylons / chemistry
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Tubulin / chemistry*
  • Tubulin / genetics
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Methacrylates
  • Nylons
  • Polymers
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TUBB3 protein, human
  • Tubulin
  • poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)