Ultrasound-Responsive Microbubbles for Sonography-guided siRNA Delivery

Publication date: Available online 28 December 2015 Source:Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine Author(s): Ping Wang, Tinghui Yin, Jingguo Li, Bowen Zheng, Xiaoli Wang, Yiru Wang, Jian Zheng, Rongqin Zheng, Xintao Shuai RNA interfering is a gene therapeutic approach of great potential for cancer. However, tumor-targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) solely based on the enhanced permeability and retention effect of nanocarriers is often insufficient. To address this challenge, siRNA encapsulated ultrasound-responsive microbubble (MB) was developed from polymeric siRNA micelles and liposomal MBs using hetero-assembling strategy. 1 MHz low-frequency ultrasound exposure of the tumor site after intratumoral injection of XIAP siRNA/MBs led to enhanced permeability of tumor tissues for much more siRNA delivery into deep tumor regions. Significant improvement of XIAP gene silencing and cleaved caspase-3 activation was achieved, resulting in good therapeutic effect on human cervical cancer xenograft model in nude mice. Moreover, real-time US monitoring of the tumor was also possible using the siRNA/MBs as a contrast agent during the therapeutic process. These results show that the multi-functional siRNA/MBs are a promising theranostic system for cancer gene therapy. Graphical abstract
Source: Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine - Category: Nanotechnology Source Type: research