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A study on co-modification of MSNs with some transition metals and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a versatile strategy for efficient delivery of short oligonucleotides

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Abstract

In this research, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized and hydrothermally modified with different transition metals, including Co2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+. The obtained samples (M-MSN) were further modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to give PEI-M-MSNs. These were studied for adsorption and desorption of siRNA molecules from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). A direct relationship was observed between the adsorption capacity of each modified MSN sample and its zeta potential. As a result of high cationic nature of the PEI modifier and low ionic radius of Zn2+, PEI-Zn-MSN showed the highest siRNA adsorption capacity. Release of siRNA from the PEI-ZnMSN was just as good as its adsorption (37.6 vs. 42.5 µg/mg). Zeta potential of the samples seems to be a more important factor than their specific surface area. Pure MSN with the BET surface area of 1060 m2 g−1 showed the lowest siRNA adsorption capacity. PEI-Co-MSN, on the other hand, showed an unexpected low BET surface area of 208.9 m2 g−1. The very low adsorption capacity of the PEI-Co-MSN can be attributed to the destruction of the mesoporous framework, caused by the formation of Co3O4 nanoparticles, according to the XRD results. To obtain a sustained release profile, effect of the polyethyleneglycol (PEG) was studied. When a layer of PEG polymer was grafted on the surface, a sustained release profile was achieved and the PEGylated vehicle (PEG-PEI-Zn-MSN) showed tolerable cytotoxicity against normal human fibroblast cells according to the MTT test. The results of the present study may introduce the PEG-PEI-Zn-MSN as a versatile vehicle for efficient siRNA delivery.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the deputy of the research, Tehran North Branch, Islamic Azad University for support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hakimiyeh, Tehran, Iran

    Rafatosadat Badihi, Ali Mahmoudi & Mohammad Reza Sazegar

  2. Future Bioenergy Solutions Inc, 369-901 3rd Street West, North Vancouver, BC, V7P 3P9, Canada

    Khodadad Nazari

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  1. Rafatosadat Badihi
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Badihi, R., Mahmoudi, A., Sazegar, M.R. et al. A study on co-modification of MSNs with some transition metals and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a versatile strategy for efficient delivery of short oligonucleotides. Chem. Pap. 76, 7023–7035 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02387-7

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