Biomacromolecules, Vol.13, No.3, 664-675, 2012
Sterically Polymer-Based Liposomal Complexes with Dual-Shell Structure for Enhancing the siRNA Delivery
The sterically polymer-based liposomal complexes (SPLexes) were formed by cationic polymeric liposomes and pH-sensitive diblock copolymer were studied for their capabilities in improving the stability with high efficiency of siRNA delivery. The SPLexes were formed a dual-shelled structure and uniform size distribution. The PEGylated outer shell could mitigate the phagocytosis and reduce the cytotoxicity. Moreover, the folated SPLexes improved 42.9X accumulation in vitro and 1.7X tumor uptake in vivo in contrast with nonfolated SPLexes. The protonated copolymer at low pH would improve the siRNA released into cytoplasm following SPLexes fusion with the endo/lysosome membrane and inhibited the protein expression to 75.6 +/- 4.5% efficiently. Results of this study significantly contribute to efforts to develop lipoplexes based siRNA delivery systems.