Phenylboronic Acid-Functionalized Micelles Dual-Targeting Boronic Acid Transporter and Polysaccharides for siRNA Delivery into Brown Algae

Brown algae play essential roles ecologically, practically, and evolutionarily because they maintain coastal areas, capture carbon dioxide, and produce valuable chemicals such as therapeutic drugs. To unlock their full potential, understanding the unique molecular biology of brown algae is imperative. Genetic engineering tools that regulate homeostasis in brown algae are essential for determining their biological mechanisms in detail. However, few methodologies have been developed to control gene expression due to the robust structural barriers of brown algae. To address this issue, we designed peptide-based, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-loaded micelles decorated with phenylboronic acid (PBA) ligands. The PBA ligands facilitated the cellular uptake of the micelles into a model brown alga, Ectocarpus siliculosus (E. Siliculosus), through chemical interaction with polysaccharides in the cell wall and biological recognition by boronic acid transporters on the plasma membrane. The micelles, featuring “kill two birds with one stone” ligands, effectively induced gene silencing related to auxin biosynthesis. As a result, the growth of E. siliculosus was temporarily inhibited without persistent genome editing. This study demonstrated the potential for exploring the characteristics of brown algae through a simple yet effective approach and presented a feasible system for delivering siRNA in brown algae.