Homotypic Targeting Delivery of siRNA with Artificial Cancer Cells

Abstract

The camouflage with cell membrane bestows nanoparticles with cell-like functions, such as specific recognition, long blood circulation, and immune escaping. For cancer therapy, the nanoparticles camouflaged with cancer cell membrane (CCM) from homologous cells show homotypic targeting delivery of small molecule compounds, photosensitizers, or enzymes to the tumors. However, effective gene therapy encounters difficulties by this approach due to the properties of nucleic acids. Herein, a cancer cell-like gene delivery system is developed using an excellent polymer poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) to condense small interfering RNA (siRNA) (targeting to Plk1 gene) into nanoparticles (PBAE/siPlk1) as the core, which is further camouflaged with CCM. These novel biomimetic nanoparticles CCM/PBAE/siPlk1 (CCMPP) demonstrate highly specific targeting to homotypic cancer cells, effective downregulation of PLK1 level, and inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. Based on the homotypic binding adhesion molecules on the CCM, the cellular internalization and homotypic-targeting accumulation to the tumors are clearly improved. CCMPP induces highly efficient apoptosis of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and results in significant tumor inhibition. The artificial cancer cells with homotypic properties can serve as a biomimetic delivery system for cancer-targeted gene therapy.

Keywords: artificial cancer cells; cell membrane camouflage; homotypic targeting; poly(β-amino ester); siRNA delivery.