Influence of electrostatic interactions on cell-penetrating peptide-small interfering RNA complex formation and intracellular delivery efficiency

Abstract

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are short positively charged biopolymers that can translocate through lipid membranes. Due to their unique properties CPPs are promising agents for intracellular drug delivery. In this work we studied potency of intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) by means of two CPPs, namely primary amphipathic MPG-ΔNLS peptide and secondary amphipathic EB1 peptide. Optimal concentration conditions and peptide-to-siRNA ratios have been found for stable peptide-siRNA complex formation and delivery efficiency has been shown.