siRNA delivery to the lung: what's new?

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014 Aug:75:112-28. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2014.05.018. Epub 2014 Jun 5.

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) has been thought of as the general answer to many unmet medical needs. After the first success stories, it soon became obvious that short interfering RNA (siRNA) is not suitable for systemic administration due to its poor pharmacokinetics. Therefore local administration routes have been adopted for more successful in vivo RNAi. This paper reviews nucleic acid modifications, nanocarrier chemistry, animal models used in successful pulmonary siRNA delivery, as well as clinical translation approaches. We summarize what has been published recently and conclude with the potential problems that may still hamper the efficient clinical application of RNAi in the lung.

Keywords: Asthma; Lung cancer; Nanocarrier; Polymer; Pulmonary delivery; siRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers / administration & dosage
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • RNA, Small Interfering