Her2/neu Small Interfering RNA Delivered in Culture by a Streptavidin Nanoparticle

A three-component nanoparticle consisting of biotinylated Trastuzumab antiHer2 antibody, tat transferring peptide and radiolabeled antisense oligomer, linked together through streptavidin, have shown promise in the delivery to Her2+ tumor in mice following intravenous administration and with evidence of radiotherapeutic efficacy. These results have encouraged us to consider the nanoparticle as a delivery vehicle for RNA interference therapy in which the radiolabeled antisense oligomer is replaced with an unlabeled siRNA duplex. The siRNA stability within the nanoparticle was first confirmed by incubation with RNase A. The interferon responses, that indicate off-target cytotoxicity, were evaluated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in BT-474 (Her2+) human breast cancer cells by measuring the mRNA expression of 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS1) and Stat-1, two key interferon-responsive genes. Thereafter the cytotoxicity induced by the siRNA nanoparticle was evaluated by a clonogenic survival assay in BT-474 cells while the Her2 expression of these target cells was evaluated for evidence of specific gene silencing. The siRNA within the three-component anti-Her2/neu siRNA nanoparticle was largely protected from RNase-dependent degradation and did not activate an interferon response. The nanoparticle effectively and significantly inhibited colony formation of the target cells and silenced the Her2 gene expression at 5 nM compared with the identical nanoparticle with a scrambled siRNA. Our delivery nanoparticle, with tumor targeting provided by the antibody and its accumulation without entrapment, possibly due to the transfecting peptide, delivered an siRNA duplex to the proper subcellular localization for specific and effective gene silencing in culture by what appears to be an siRNA mechanism.