Preparation and in Vitro Evaluation of pH Low Insertion Peptide-Modified Liposomes Encapsulating siRNA
YOU Li-jiang1,2, LIANG Ju2, CAO De-ying2, DU Qing2, YANG Shao-kun2*, XIANG Bai2*
1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China , Hengyang 421001, China; 2. School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Abstract：OBJECTIVE Therapeutic nucleic acids(siRNA etc.) have unique advantages such as high specificity, safety, and target diversity in the treatment of diseases. However, the naked siRNAs are easily degraded by nucleases(RNase), have short half-lives and low transfection efficiency, which limit their therapeutic application. To construct a mildly acidic microenvironment sensitive liposomal nanocarrier for the efficient localization and delivery of siRNA(small interfering RNA) at the tissue, cell and even organelle levels. METHODS Blank liposomes were prepared by thin-film hydration using dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine(DOPE) and cholesteryl hemisuccinate(CHEMS). The siRNA was compressed with the amphiphilic material SA-R8 to obtain SA-R8/siRNA, which was then incubated with blank liposomes to prepare liposomes encapsulating siRNA. The terminally functionalized phospholipid(DSPE-PEG2000-MAL) was linked to the low pH insertion peptide(pHLIP). The product was then incubated with liposomes encapsulating siRNA to construct pHLIP-modified liposomes encapsulating siRNA. The particle size and distribution of liposomes were characterized by dynamic light scattering principle. The cellular uptake, intracellular transport and distribution were monitored by flow cytometry and confocal laser-scanning technique. RESULTS The RESULTS showed that the average size of the prepared liposomes encapsulating siRNA was between 150 and 190 nm. The cell uptake of siRNA at pH 6.5 was significantly higher than that of pH 7.4. And the siRNA internalized was well localized in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION This carrier shows strong pH sensitivity and can significantly increase the cell uptake of siRNA in the tumor acidic environment.
游利江, 梁飓, 曹德英, 杜青, 杨少坤, 向柏. 低pH插入肽修饰的载siRNA脂质体的制备与体外评价[J]. 中国药学杂志, 2020, 55(4): 312-316.
YOU Li-jiang, LIANG Ju, CAO De-ying, DU Qing, YANG Shao-kun, XIANG Bai. Preparation and in Vitro Evaluation of pH Low Insertion Peptide-Modified Liposomes Encapsulating siRNA. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2020, 55(4): 312-316.
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2020, Vol. 55 
