Discovery of small interfering RNA as a tool for specific gene inhibition led to the development of new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancers. The efficacious delivery of therapeutic siRNAs into the cells is a crucial step in RNA interference (RNAi) application, but it remains challenging. Non-viral vectors can provide specific cellular uptake, stable siRNA complex formation, and intracellular siRNA release. Recently, we evaluated modular peptide carrier L1 bearing CXCR4 targeting ligand for its ability to condense siRNA and facilitate endosomal escape and VEGFA gene silencing in CXCR4-expressing endothelial and glioblastoma cells. The present chapter showcases the ability of L1 targeted peptide carrier to form complexes with siRNA and provide efficient VEGFA gene knockdown. We showed that siRNA delivery by means of L1 peptide carrier can result in significant decrease of VEGFA gene expression in A172 glioblastoma cells and in EA.hy 926 endothelial cells. Also, delivery of anti-VEGFA siRNA/peptide complexes led to significant inhibition of endothelial cell migration. Our results showed that L1 peptide carrier modified with CXCR4 ligand is a promising tool for targeted siRNA delivery into CXCR4-expressing cancer and endothelial cells.
Keywords: CXCR4; Cancer gene therapy; Non-viral delivery; Peptide-based carrier; RNA interference; VEGFA.