Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
751982 
Journal Article 
SiRNA delivery with functionalized carbon nanotubes 
Varkouhi, AK; Foillard, S; Lammers, T; Schiffelers, RM; Doris, E; Hennink, WE; Storm, G 
2011 
Yes 
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
ISSN: 0378-5173
EISSN: 1873-3476 
416 
2 
419-425 
English 
21320582 
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied for drug, antigen and nucleic acid delivery both in vitro and in vivo. Due to their nano-needle structure, they are supposed to cross the plasma membrane and enter directly into the cytoplasm likely upon an endocytosis-independent mechanism without inducing cell death. In this study, two cationically functionalized CNTs (CNT-PEI and CNT-pyridinium) were investigated for siRNA delivery. Both functionalized CNTs complexed siRNA and showed 10-30% silencing activity and a cytotoxicity of 10-60%. However, in terms of reduced toxicity or increased silencing activity, CNT-PEI and CNT-pyridinium did not show an added value over PEI and other standard transfection systems. Probably, the type of functionalization of carbon nanotubes might be a key parameter to obtain an efficient and non-cytotoxic CNT-based delivery system. Nevertheless, in view of the present results and importantly also of the non-degradability of CNTs, preference should currently be given to designing biodegradable carriers which mimic the needle structure of CNTs. 
Other
• Nanoscale Carbon