DENDRON FUNCTIONALIZED SWNTS AS A DELIVERY VEHICLE FOR MULTIPLE SIRNA THERAPY

Abstract

In this proposed experiment, the successful conclusions of previous studies will be combined into a single nano-formulation with increased uptake and delivery of a short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) payload with the intention to down-regulate genes that are overexpressed in multiple types of cancer. Single-walled carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) will be length sorted and dendron functionalized to promote endocytosis. Then SWNTs will be siRNA wrapped to both improve solubility and to deliver the siRNA therapeutic cargo. Endocytosis will be monitored by fluorescence microscopy using the intrinsic fluorescence of SWNTs in an in vitro study and the efficacy of the nanoformulation will then be analyzed in vitro via western blotting and rtPCR genotyping and in vivo in a xenograft study.