High-density lipoproteins for the systemic delivery of short interfering RNA

Kaylin Marie McMahon, Colby Shad Thaxton*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful mechanism for gene silencing with the potential to greatly impact the development of new therapies for many human diseases. Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) may be the ideal molecules for therapeutic RNAi. However, therapeutic siRNAs face significant challenges that must be overcome prior to widespread clinical use. Many efforts have been made to overcome the hurdles associated with systemic administration of siRNA; however, current approaches are still limited. As such, there is an urgent need to develop new strategies for siRNA delivery that have the potential to impact a broad spectrum of systemic diseases. Areas covered: This review focuses on the promise of siRNA therapies and highlights current siRNA delivery methods. With an eye toward new strategies, this review first introduces high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and describes its natural biological functions, and then transitions into how HDLs may provide significant opportunities as next-generation siRNA delivery vehicles. Importantly, this review describes how synthetic HDLs leverage the natural ability of HDL to stabilize and deliver siRNAs. Expert opinion: HDLs are natural nanoparticles that are critical to understanding the systemic delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids, like siRNA. Methods to synthesize biomimetic HDLs are being explored, and data demonstrate that this type of delivery vehicle may be highly beneficial for targeted and efficacious systemic delivery of siRNAs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)231-247
Number of pages17
JournalExpert Opinion on Drug Delivery
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2014

Funding

C. S. Thaxton would like to thank the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for a Physician-Scientist Early Career Award, grant funding from the Department of Defense/Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA95501310192), and grant funding from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (U54CA151880 and R01CA167041). K. M. McMahon would like to thank the Ryan Family through the Ryan Graduate Fellowship Program and the Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences for their support. C. S. Thaxton is a founder of AuraSense and AuraSense Therapeutics. K. M. McMahon declares no conflicts of interest.

Keywords

  • Biomimetic
  • High-density lipoprotein
  • Nanoparticle
  • RNA interference
  • Short interfering RNA
  • Targeted delivery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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