CD44-targeted PLGA-based nanoparticles for the delivery of siRNA to cancer cells

Pasquale D'Anna – PhD student, University of Naples Federico II; Virgilio Piccolo – PhD student, University of Naples Federico II; Simona Laurino – Researcher, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata; Sabino Russi – Researcher, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata; Geppino Falco – Professor, Biogem scarl, Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche ’Gaetano Salvatore’, Avellino, Italy; Salvatore Emanuele Drago – Post Doc, University of Palermo; Gennara Cavallaro – Professor, University of Palermo; Cameron Alexander – Professor, University of Nottingham, UK; Fabiana Quaglia – Professor, University of Naples Federico II

Introduction: siRNA therapy, alone or in association with chemotherapy, represents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer [1]. However, clinical translation of siRNA can be improved by its delivery through polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) able to overcome the biological barriers, thus ameliorating siRNA efficacy and reducing off-target effects [2]. Furthermore, in order to improve NP accumulation in solid tumors, it is recognized that Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is an important targeting ligand that promotes the cellular uptake of NPs by CD44-presenting cancer cells [3]. Therefore, we propose novel CD44-targeted polymeric NPs decorated on the surface with HA intended for siRNA delivery to solid tumors.