Hexagonal phase liquid crystalline nanonoparticles functionalyzed with transduction peptides for siRNA vehiculation in the therapy of topical diseases.

Author(s)

Raquel Petrilli

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2013-03-08

Examining board members

Maria Vitoria Lopes Badra Bentley; Priscyla Daniely Marcato Gaspari; Maria Teresa Machini

• Advisor: Maria Vitoria Lopes Badra Bentley

Abstract

The RNA interference process refers to the sequence-specific posttranscriptional silencing of genes in animals and plants capable of being promoted by dsRNA that are homologous to the sequence of the silenced gene. This process can be applied as therapy, which presents advantages such as the specificity to the chosen targets, the possibility to treat a variety of genetic diseases, besides being very potent and efficacious. However, the major hurdle consists in keeping the siRNAs stability in the biological fluids, because they are susceptible to renal clearance and degradation by RNAses. Thus, there is the need for suitable delivery systems, capable of maintaining the stability of siRNAs for sufficient time so they can reach the target organ in the therapy and promote sustained release. Of particular interest are certain proteins and peptides transduction domains (PTDs) that can be connected to hydrophilic drugs and thus make it possible to cross cell membranes. Within this context, many non-viral vectors have been studied for siRNA vehiculation which makes innovative the present study because it aims at the development of nanostructured delivery systems based on liquid crystals functionalyzed with membrane transduction peptides for the topical vehiculation of siRNAs. Thus, hexagonal phase liquid crystal nanoparticles containing or not the cationinc polyethylenimine (PEI) and oleylamine (OAM) were functionalyzed with membrane transduction peptides TAT (TAT) or penetratin (PNT). The obtained systems were complexed with siRNA by eletrostatic interaction and characterized for particle size, polidispersity, zeta potential and complexation efficiency. The cytotoxicity of the formulations was performed with L929 fibroblasts by MTT assay and flow cytometry and the in vitro transfection was evaluated by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. The systems containing PEI or OAM presented positive zeta potential and could complex siRNA at the concentration of 10 ?M. The cell culture studies demonstrated that the systems containing oleic acid (OA) were the most efficient to transfect L929 cells and the transfection efficiency was enhanced with the functionalization with the TAT peptide. Thereafter, the selected systems were evaluated for the in vivo skin penetration. The nanosdispersed systems composed of MO/OA/PEI functionalyzed with TAT resulted in a higher siRNA penetration and release in the skin, promoting higher TNF alfa supression in animal model of cutaneous inflammation, compared to the control formulations. Hence, we demonstrated that the developed systems are promising for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/02630-6 - Nanoparticles of hexagonal liquid crystalline phase functionalized with cell-penetrating peptides for siRNA delivery in vaginal diseases therapy: pharmacotechnical studies and in vitro release in animal model
• Grantee: Raquel Petrilli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master