0000000000247534
AUTHOR
Markus Hirsch
Cationic Nanohydrogel Particles as Potential siRNA Carriers for Cellular Delivery
Oligonucleotides such as short, double-stranded RNA (siRNA) or plasmid DNA (pDNA) promise high potential in gene therapy. For pharmaceutical application, however, adequate drug carriers are required. Among various concepts progressing in the market or final development, nanosized hydrogel particles may serve as novel transport media especially for siRNA. In this work, a new concept of synthesizing polymeric cationic nanohydrogels was developed, which offers a promising strategy to complex and transport siRNA into cells. For this purpose, amphiphilic reactive ester block copolymers were synthesized by RAFT polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate as reactive ester monomer together wi…
Modulation of mitochondriotropic properties of cyanine dyes by in organello copper-free click reaction
Cyanine (Cy) dyes show a general propensity to localize in polarized mitochondria. This mitochondriotropism was used to perform a copper-free click reaction in the mitochondria of living cells. The in organello reaction of dyes Cy3 and Cy5 led to a product that was easily traceable by Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). As determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the Cy3-Cy5 conjugate showed enhanced retention in mitochondria, relative to that of the starting compounds. This enhancement of a favorable property can be achieved by synthesis in organello, but not outside mitochondria.
Click modification of multifunctional liposomes bearing hyperbranched polyether chains.
Aiming at controlled modification of liposomal surface structures, we describe a postpreparational approach for surface derivatization of a new type of multifunctional, sterically stabilized liposomes. Application of dual centrifugation (DC) resulted in high encapsulation efficiencies above 50% at very small batch sizes with a total volume of 150 μL, which were conductive to fast and efficient optimization of variegated surface modification reactions. Cholesterol-polymer amphiphiles, including complex hyperbranched polyether structures bearing 1-4 terminal alkynes, were used in DC formulations to provide steric stabilization. The alkyne moieties were explored as anchors for the conjugation …
A modified guanosine phosphoramidite for click functionalization of RNA on the sugar edge
A propargyl containing guanosine phosphoramidite was synthesized and incorporated into siRNA, enabling click-ligation with an azido fluorophore onto the nucleobase sugar edge. Duplex stability was not affected by labeling at this new site, which allowed deconvolution of the effects of label, structure and attachment site on RNAi activity.
Dye selection for live cell imaging of intact siRNA
Abstract Investigations into the fate of small interfering RNA (siRNA) after transfection may unravel new ways to improve RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency. Because intracellular degradation of RNA may prevent reliable observation of fluorescence-labeled siRNA, new tools for fluorescence microscopy are warranted to cover the considerable duration of the RNAi effect. Here, the characterization and application of new fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) dye pairs for sensing the integrity of duplex siRNA is reported, which allows an assessment of the degradation status of an siRNA cell population by live cell imaging. A panel of high-yield fluorescent dyes has been investigated for …
Live cell imaging of duplex siRNA intracellular trafficking.
Intracellular distribution of siRNA after in vitro transfection typically depends on lipopolyplexes, which must release the siRNA into the cytosol. Here, the fate of siRNAs was monitored by FRET-based live cell imaging. Subsequent to in situ observation of uptake and release processes, this approach allowed the observation of a number of hitherto uncharacterized intracellular distribution and degradation processes, commencing with a burst of endosomal releases, followed, in some cases, by fast siRNA influx into the nucleus. The continued observation of intact siRNA against a background of free fluorophores resulting from advanced degradation was possible by a specifically developed imaging …