Topical and Targeted Delivery of siRNAs to Melanoma Cells Using a Fusion Peptide Carrier

Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 4:6:29159. doi: 10.1038/srep29159.

Abstract

Topical application of siRNAs through the skin is a potentially effective strategy for the treatment of melanoma tumors. In this study, we designed a new and safe fusion peptide carrier SPACE-EGF to improve the skin and cell penetration function of the siRNAs and their targeting ability to B16 cells, such that the apoptosis of B16 cells can be induced. The results show that the carrier is stable and less toxic. The EGF motif does not affect the skin and cell penetration function of the SPACE. Because EGF can strongly bind EGFR, which is overexpressed in cancer cells, the targeting ability of the SPACE-EGF-siRNA complex is increased. In vitro experiments indicate that GAPDH siRNAs conjugated with SPACE-EGF can significantly reduce the GAPDH concentration in B16 cells, and c-Myc siRNAs can cause the gene silencing of c-Myc and thus the apoptosis of cells. In vivo experiments show that the topical application of c-Myc siRNAs delivered by SPACE-EGF through the skin can significantly inhibit the growth of melanoma tumors. This work may provide insight into the development of new transdermal drug carriers to treat a variety of skin disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Gene Silencing
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Permeability
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Skin / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Epidermal Growth Factor