Silica Nanoparticles Deliver DNA to Cells

NEW YORK JAN 03, 2005 (Reuters Health) - New research indicates that silica nanoparticles can act as DNA carriers, offering a nonviral method of gene delivery.

In the study, Dr. Paras N. Prasad and colleagues, from the State University of New York at Buffalo, synthesized various silica nanoparticles that were able to condense and protect both plasmid and genomic DNA. Some of the nanoparticles were labeled with fluorescent dyes to facilitate cellular tracking with microscopy.

The researchers" findings appear in the December 27th early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The nanoparticles were readily admitted to the cytoplasm of the test cells, the investigators note. Once in the cell, the nanoparticles protected their genetic payload from enzymatic degradation and delivered the DNA to the nucleus. Lastly, successful gene transfection was observed.

The use of modified nanoparticles combined with optical tracking "provides a promising future direction for targeted therapy with enhanced efficacy as well as real-time monitoring of drug action," the investigators state.

SOURCE:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2004, online early edition.

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