Nanodiamond as a vector for siRNA delivery to Ewing sarcoma cells

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that nanodiamonds can effectively deliver siRNA into Ewing sarcoma cells, inhibiting specific gene expression with low toxicity, highlighting their potential as in vivo anti-cancer delivery vectors.

Contribution

We show for the first time that nanodiamonds can serve as efficient, low-toxicity carriers for siRNA delivery to Ewing sarcoma cells, enabling targeted gene inhibition.

Findings

Nanodiamonds are taken up by Ewing sarcoma cells via intrinsic fluorescence.

Coated nanodiamonds exhibit low cell toxicity.

siRNA delivered by nanodiamonds specifically inhibits EWS/Fli-1 gene expression.

Abstract

We investigated the ability of diamond nanoparticles (nanodiamonds, NDs) to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) in Ewing sarcoma cells, in the perspective of in vivo anti-cancer nucleic acid drug delivery. siRNA was adsorbed onto NDs previously coated with cationic polymer. Cell uptake of NDs has been demonstrated by taking advantage of NDs intrinsic fluorescence coming from embedded color center defects. Cell toxicity of these coated NDs was shown to be low. Consistent with the internalization efficacy, we have shown a specific inhibition of EWS/Fli-1 gene expression at the mRNA and protein level by the ND vectorized siRNA in a serum containing medium.