Tailored Design of Au Nanoparticle-siRNA Carriers Utilizing Reversible Addition−Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymers

The facile synthesis of polymer-stabilized Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) capable of forming neutral, sterically stable complexes with small interfering RNA (siRNA) is reported. The amine-containing cationic block of poly(N-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide70-block-N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl] methacrylamide24) [P(HPMA70-b-DMAPMA24)] was utilized to promote the in situ reduction of Au3+ to AuNPs and subsequently bind small interfering RNA, while the nonimmunogenic, hydrophilic block provided steric stabilization. The ratio of [DMAPMA]0/[Au3+]0 utilized in the reduction reaction was found to be critical to the production of polymer-stabilized AuNPs capable of complexing siRNA. Significant protection (∼100 times) against nucleases was demonstrated by enzymatic tests, while gene down-regulation experiments indicated successful delivery of siRNA to cancerous cells.