Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have an inherent capacity for noninvasive imaging and obtaining semi-quantitative information about nanoparticle bioavailability in target tissues. As theranostic agents they can serve as vehicles for delivery of various therapeutics. This presentation will focus on utilizing iron oxide nanoparticles for delivery and noninvasive monitoring of siRNA and microRNA therapies in cancer.RNA interference is an innate cellular mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in which double-stranded ribonucleic acid inhibits the expression of genes with complementary nucleotide sequences. Its potential for tumor therapy is indisputable, considering that one can use this mechanism to silence virtually any gene, including genes implicated in tumorigenesis, with single-nucleotide specificity. Magnetic nanoparticles were used for delivery and monitoring siRNA to tumors.MicroRNA are a class of post-transcriptional regulators that have been implicated in various cell functions including metastatic potential. Several microRNAs that mediate the process of tumor cell migration and tissue invasion have been identified. In our laboratory we used iron oxide nanoparticels for targeting miR-10b implicated in breast cancer metastasis.In both cases magnetic nanoparticles served not only as imaging reporters but also as protective delivery vehicles for oligonucleotides. Information obtained using these nanoparticles in potential clinical scenario could provide directions for treatment on a patient-by-patient basis, opening up the possibility for designing individualized therapeutic regimens.

Iron oxide nanoparticles as theranostic agents for siRNA nad microRNA therapies in cancer

247th National Meeting (2014)

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