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  • Modified-chitosan/siRNA nanoparticles downregulate cellular CDX2 expression and cross the gastric mucus barrier.

Modified-chitosan/siRNA nanoparticles downregulate cellular CDX2 expression and cross the gastric mucus barrier.

PloS one (2014-06-14)
Ana Sadio, Jenny K Gustafsson, Bruno Pereira, Carla Pereira Gomes, Gunnar C Hansson, Leonor David, Ana Paula Pêgo, Raquel Almeida
ABSTRACT

Development of effective non-viral vectors is of crucial importance in the implementation of RNA interference in clinical routine. The localized delivery of siRNAs to the gastrointestinal mucosa is highly desired but faces specific problems such as the stability in gastric acidity conditions and the presence of the mucus barrier. CDX2 is a transcription factor critical for intestinal differentiation being involved in the initiation and maintenance of gastrointestinal diseases. Specifically, it is the trigger of gastric intestinal metaplasia which is a precursor lesion of gastric cancer. Its expression is also altered in colorectal cancer, where it may constitute a lineage-survival oncogene. Our main objective was to develop a nanoparticle-delivery system of siRNA targeting CDX2 using modified chitosan as a vector. CDX2 expression was assessed in gastric carcinoma cell lines and nanoparticles behaviour in gastrointestinal mucus was tested in mouse explants. We show that imidazole-modified chitosan and trimethylchitosan/siRNA nanoparticles are able to downregulate CDX2 expression and overpass the gastric mucus layer but not colonic mucus. This system might constitute a potential therapeutic approach to treat CDX2-dependent gastric lesions.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Calcein, Used for the fluorometric determination of calcium and EDTA titration of calcium in the presence of magnesium.
Sigma-Aldrich
N-Hydroxysuccinimide, purum, ≥97.0% (T)
Sigma-Aldrich
Fluorescein, for fluorescence, free acid
Fluorescein, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Sigma-Aldrich
MISSION® esiRNA, targeting mouse Cdx2
Sigma-Aldrich
MISSION® esiRNA, targeting human CDX2
Sigma-Aldrich
N-Hydroxysuccinimide, 98%