Serum Stability and Physicochemical Characterization of a Novel Amphipathic Peptide C6M1 for SiRNA Delivery

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097797
• Publication Date: 2014-05-15T20:55:18Z
• Authors: Mousa Jafari; Wen Xu; Ran Pan; Chad M. Sweeting; Desiree Nedra Kar...; Pu Chen
• Keywords: Random coil

The efficient delivery of nucleic acids as therapeutic agents is a major challenge in gene therapy. Peptides have recently emerged novel carrier for drugs and genes. C6M1 designed amphipathic peptide with the ability to form stable complexes short interfering RNA (siRNA). showed combination random coil helical structure water but mainly adopted conformation presence anions or siRNA. Revealed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) microscopy techniques, interaction siRNA HEPES led ∼70 ∼155 nm size, respectively, aggregates large ∼500 PBS. time-dependent aggregation complex PBS was studied DLS fluorescence spectroscopy. At molar ratio 15∶1, able completely encapsulate siRNA; however, higher ratios were required obtain complexes. Naked degraded 4 h solution 50% serum; however protected against serum RNase over period 24 h. Western blotting experiment ∼72% decrease GAPDH protein level cells treated C6M1-siRNA while no significant knockdown observed naked