MicroRNAs (miRNA) aberrantly expressed in tumors may offer novel therapeutic approaches to treatment. miR-145 is downregulated in various cancers including colon carcinoma in which in vitro studies have established proapoptotic and antiproliferative roles. miR-33a was connected recently to cancer through its capacity to downregulate the oncogenic kinase Pim-1. To date, miRNA replacement therapy...

Graphene oxide (GO) has been extensively explored in nanomedicine for its excellent physiochemical, electrical, and optical properties. Here, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethylenimine (PEI) are covalently conjugated to GO via amide bonds, obtaining a physiologically stable dual-polymer-functionalized nano-GO conjugate (NGO-PEG-PEI) with ultra-small size. Compared with free PEI and the GO-P...

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising therapeutic approach for castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa). For the clinical application of siRNA, it is vital to find a safe and efficient gene transfer vector. Nanotechnology can provide a crucial advantage in developing strategies for cancer management and treatment by helping to improve the safety and efficacy of new therapeutic delivery...

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are specialized immune cells that produce massive levels of type I interferon in response to pathogens. Unfortunately, pDC are fragile and extremely rare, rendering their functional study a tough challenge. However, because of their central role in numerous pathologies, there is a considerable need for an efficient and reproducible protocol for gene silencing ...

BACKGROUND RNA interference technology has shown high therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. However, serum instability, poor tissue permeability and non-specific uptake of short interfering RNA (siRNA) limit its administration in vivo. To overcome these limitations and improve the specificity for ovarian cancer, we developed a targeted nanoparticle delivery system for siRNA. This system i...

RNA interference (RNAi) has been considered as a promising strategy for effective treatment of cancer. However, the easy degradation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) limits its extensive applications in gene therapy. For safe and effective delivery of siRNA, a novel vector system possessing excellent biocompatibility, highly efficient transfection efficiency and specific targeting properties ha...

Potent sequence selective gene inhibition by siRNA 'targeted' therapeutics promises the ultimate level of specificity, but siRNA therapeutics is hindered by poor intracellular uptake, limited blood stability and non-specific immune stimulation. To address these problems, ligand-targeted, sterically stabilized nanoparticles have been adapted for siRNA. Self-assembling nanoparticles with siRNA we...

Polyethyleneimine (PEI)-alginate (Alg) nanoparticle (NP) is a safe and effective vector for delivery of siRNA or DNA. Recent studies suggest that autophagy is related to cytotoxicity of PEI NPs. However, contribution of autophagy to degradation of PEI-Alg NPs remains unknown. CD34+VEGFR-3+ endothelial progenitor cells isolated from rat bone marrow were treated with 25 kDa branched PEI modified ...