Synthesis and characterization of a carbon nanotube-dendron series for efficient siRNA delivery

Abstract

A new series of dendron-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) derivatives, characterized by the presence of numerous positively charged tetraalkyl ammonium salts at the periphery of the dendron, has been synthesized. The positive charges on the MWNT surface, coupled with the unique ability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to penetrate cell membranes, make the new derivatives potentially ideal vectors for siRNA delivery. Using a fluorescently labeled, noncoding siRNA sequence, we demonstrate that cytoplasmic delivery of the nucleic acid is remarkably increased throughout the different dendron generations. The work reported here highlights the fact that dendronfunctionalized CNTs can be rationally designed as efficient carriers of siRNA that can eventually lead to gene silencing. © 2009 American Chemical Society.