Highly efficient cationic ethylphosphatidylcholine siRNA carrier for GFP suppression in modified breast cancer cells.

AIM Cationic ethylphosphatidylcholines (ePCs) were evaluated for the delivery of siRNA in modified breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dimyristoleoyl-ePC (C14), dioleoyl-ePC (C18), and dilauroyl-ePC (C12) nanoparticles were complexed with siRNA for green fluorescent protein (GFP) suppression in modified MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The kinetics of GFP suppression were followed over the course of 72 hours. RESULTS C14, which has been previously found to be particularly effective in gene transfection into primary human umbilical artery endothelial cells, was also remarkably effective as siRNA carrier, with an efficacy exceeding that of Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. The C14 toxicity remained comparable to that of RNAiMAX. The efficacy of the other tested cationic ePC formulations was less than that of C14 and RNAiMAX. CONCLUSION The cationic lipid C14 is a highly efficient siRNA carrier that could be used for the development of new formulations for siRNA delivery into cancer cells. A valuable advantage of the C14 formulations is the fact that they are simple, and do not require adjuvants or complex preparation procedures.