Targeted Delivery of siRNA

The biological phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi) has much promise for developing therapeutics to a variety of diseases. However, development of RNAi therapies remains mainly in preclinical stages largely because of difficulties in delivering small inhibitory RNAs (siRNA) and short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) into target cells. Although viral vector-based siRNA delivery systems have been widely used, their specificity and safety remain significant issues. Without a solution to these delivery problems, RNAi cannot fulfill its therapeutic promise.Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging have developed new compositions and methods for delivering inhibitory oligonucleotides to cells in a targeted and efficient manner. The compositions and methods are based on utilizing a cell surface receptor targeting ligand, such as cytokine or chemokine, and a domain that binds an inhibitory oligonucleotide, to efficiently deliver the inhibitory oligonucleotide to the cell that expresses the cell surface receptor targeting ligand. Chemokine receptors are differentially expressed on various cells, including tumors; hence this technology allows targeting siRNA to aberrant cells. Gene silencing can also be achieved in variety of immune cells by targeting cytokine receptors. This technology has great potential for developing into a safe and effective means of delivering therapeutic siRNAs.IC: NIANIH Ref. No.: E-051-2008/0TAB No: TAB-1868Advantages:&nb...
Source: NIH OTT Licensing Opportunities - Category: Research Authors: Source Type: research