Traceable siRNA delivery with quantum dots

A new generation of drug carrier that allows efficient delivery and real-time imaging of siRNA in live cells has been developed by combining nanoparticles and amphiphilic polymers. Compared with the classic siRNA carriers such as Lipofectamin and polyetheleneimine, this new class of nanocarrier works in both serum-free and complete cell culture media, which is advantageous over lipofectamine. It also outperforms polyethyleneimine in gene silencing under both conditions with significantly reduced toxicity. Furthermore, the core nanoparticles provide a mechanism for real-time imaging of siRNA delivery. This new multifunctional, compact, and traceable nanocarrier is expected to yield important information on rational design of siRNA carriers and to have widespread applications of siRNA delivery and screening in vitro and in vivo.