The present study describes hybrid nanoparticles, built by alternate deposition of siRNA and modified polyethyleneimine (tyrosine-grafted PEI or tyrosine/galactose-grafted PEI) on calcium phosphate nanoparticles. These "easy to produce" nanoparticles (NPs) present an efficient gene silencing effect demonstrated in vitro in a luciferase expressing cell culture model and in vivo in a tumour xenograft mouse model. The luciferase gene silencing percentage reached up to 95% in vitro with biocompatible doses of siRNA. Interestingly, we show by SPECT imaging of radiolabeled particles that without modifying the size, stability and in vitro efficiency, the grafting of a sugar moiety on PEI can modify the in vivo biodistribution of the particles. The proof of concept that galactose-grafting on PEI could change biodistribution without changing the gene silencing efficiency makes them versatile tools for specific delivery of small interfering RNA. As they have been designed so far, biodistribution is mainly located in the liver and thus these innovative nanoparticles open a realistic and feasible strategy for siRNA delivery into the liver in vivo
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.