The objective of this study is to determine the toxicity and transfection properties of new synthetic carriers to deliver small interfering RNA's (siRNA's) to the cytoplasm of PaCa-2 cell lines. These carriers are made of a super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle core (SPION), covered by a layer of modified branched polyethylene imine (PEI). We call these materials SPNCs (super paramagnetic nano-carriers). The toxic effects of various SPNCs, modified on their outer surface with methyl, ethyl, propyl and isopropyl groups was tested by the MTS assay in PaCa-2 cell lines. Their siRNA transfection efficiency was tested in the same cell lines using the dual luciferase assay with and without an externally applied magnetic field (magnetofection), and compared against lipofectamine and naked PEI (the controls). In addition, transfection on the SPNCs was studied directly by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The effects of the SPNCs surface modifications and magnetofection on cell toxicity and siRNA transfection efficiency will be discussed. The results show most new SPNCs are efficient siRNA transfecting agents, and magnetofection helps reduce their incubation period.

Super paramagnetic nanocarriers for delivering siRNAs to PaCa-2 cells

247th National Meeting (2014)

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