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Chemical Modification of Small Interfering RNA

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Book cover Antiviral RNAi

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 721))

Abstract

Chemically synthesized siRNAs are widely used for gene silencing. For in vitro applications, stability, delivery, and immunological issues are rarely problematic, but for in vivo applications the situation is different. Limited stability, undesirable pharmacokinetic behaviour, and unanticipated side effects from the immune system call for more careful structural siRNA design and inclusion of chemical modifications at selected positions. Also the notion that siRNA induces significant off-target silencing of many non-related genes has promted new effective measures to enhance specificity. The scope of this review is to provide a simple guide to successful chemical and structural modification of siRNAs with improved activity, stability, specificity, and low toxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    Jesper B. Bramsen

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  1. Jesper B. Bramsen
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  2. Jørgen Kjems
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Correspondence to Jesper B. Bramsen .

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  1. Inst. for Infection, Inflammation & Immu, Dept. Medical Microbiology, Radboud Univ.Nijmegen Medical Ctr, Geert Grooteplein 28, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, Netherlands

    Ronald P. van Rij

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© 2011 Humana Press

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Bramsen, J.B., Kjems, J. (2011). Chemical Modification of Small Interfering RNA. In: van Rij, R. (eds) Antiviral RNAi. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 721. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-037-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-037-9_5

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