Targeted siRNA delivery by anti-HER2 antibody-modified nanoparticles of mPEG-chitosan diblock copolymer

This study aims to determine the specificity of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor antibody (anti-HER2) modified monomethoxy polyethylene glycol-chitosan (mPEG-CS) nanoparticles (anti-HER2/mPEG-CS NPs) in delivering small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive cancer cells. Physicochemical properties of the siRNA-loaded anti-HER2/mPEG-CS NPs (anti-HER2/mPEG-CS-siRNA NPs), including size, surface charge, siRNA encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release profile of siRNA from NPs, were characterized by particle size and zeta potential analyzer, and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. MTT assay was used to study the in vitro cytotoxicity of the NPs. Fluorescent microscope and flow cytometer analysis results showed that anti-HER2/mPEG-CS-siRNA NPs had much efficient delivery of siRNA than the siRNA alone, Lipofectamine-siRNA complexes and mPEG-CS-siRNA NPs. These results demonstrated that anti-HER2/mPEG-CS-siRNA NPs had great potential applications as a targeted strategy for siRNA delivery.