Small-sized, stable lipid nanoparticle for the efficient delivery of siRNA to human immune cell lines

Gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) is useful for analyzing the functions of human immune cells. However, the transfection of siRNA to human immune cells is difficult. Here, we used a multifunctional envelope-type nanodevice (MEND) containing YSK12-C4 (YSK12-MEND) to efficiently introduce siRNA to human immune cell lines, Jurkat, THP-1, KG-1 and NK92. The YSK12-MEND was transfected to human immune cell lines at a siRNA dose range of 1–30 nM, resulting that maximum gene silencing efficiencies at the mRNA level in Jurkat, THP-1, KG-1 and NK92 were 96%, 96%, 91% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding values for Lipofectamine RNAiMAX (RNAiMAX) were 37%, 56%, 43% and 19%, respectively. The process associated with cellular uptake played a role in effective gene silencing effect of the YSK12-MEND. The small size and high non-aggregability of the YSK12-MEND were advantageous for the cellular internalization of siRNA to immune cell lines. In the case of RNAiMAX, a drastic increase in particles size was observed in the medium used, which inhibited cellular uptake. The YSK12-MEND reported in herein appears to be appropriate for delivering siRNA to human immune cells, and the small particle size and non-aggregability are essential properties.