Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its dense extra-cellular matrix and poor vascularization, which limit effective drug accumulation and therapy. Here, we describe a local siRNA delivery system using thermosensitive hydrogel-embedded na-noparticles (NPs)....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Majd Agbaria, Doaa Jbara-Agbaria, Gershon Golomb
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Andover House Inc. 2025-04-01
Series:Precision Nanomedicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.33218/001c.136412
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849700529571102720
author Majd Agbaria
Doaa Jbara-Agbaria
Gershon Golomb
author_facet Majd Agbaria
Doaa Jbara-Agbaria
Gershon Golomb
author_sort Majd Agbaria
collection DOAJ
description Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its dense extra-cellular matrix and poor vascularization, which limit effective drug accumulation and therapy. Here, we describe a local siRNA delivery system using thermosensitive hydrogel-embedded na-noparticles (NPs). siRNA against VAV1 (siVAV1), a key protein implicated in PC, was encapsu-lated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based NPs decorated with an ApoB-derived peptide as the targeting ligand. The ApoB-targeted NPs exhibited optimal physicochemical properties, including nanoscale size, low polydispersity index, and a neutral charge. The sustained-release siRNA-NPs were incorporated into a thermosensitive hydrogel (poloxamer) and locally injected into the pancreas of tumor-bearing mice. Treatment with targeted NPs in gel (tNPs@G) resulted in a notable increase in accumulation within the tumor (1.9-fold) and spleen (1.3-fold) 72 hours post-injection, with minimal systemic exposure and no local cytotoxicity. Intra-tumoral implan-tation of the gel-laden siVAV1 NPs in PC-bearing mice led to a significant reduction in tumor growth and volume (2.6-fold), mediated by the inhibition of both VAV1 mRNA and protein, and improved survival rates. The developed local siRNA delivery system provides a minimally in-vasive and effective therapeutic approach for PC, addressing key drug delivery barriers.
format Article
id doaj-art-a432018bd3f744e8ac83c44264da149c
institution DOAJ
issn 2639-9431
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Andover House Inc.
record_format Article
series Precision Nanomedicine
spelling doaj-art-a432018bd3f744e8ac83c44264da149c2025-08-20T03:18:13ZengAndover House Inc.Precision Nanomedicine2639-94312025-04-018210.33218/001c.136412Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in miceMajd AgbariaDoaa Jbara-AgbariaGershon GolombPancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, primarily due to its dense extra-cellular matrix and poor vascularization, which limit effective drug accumulation and therapy. Here, we describe a local siRNA delivery system using thermosensitive hydrogel-embedded na-noparticles (NPs). siRNA against VAV1 (siVAV1), a key protein implicated in PC, was encapsu-lated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based NPs decorated with an ApoB-derived peptide as the targeting ligand. The ApoB-targeted NPs exhibited optimal physicochemical properties, including nanoscale size, low polydispersity index, and a neutral charge. The sustained-release siRNA-NPs were incorporated into a thermosensitive hydrogel (poloxamer) and locally injected into the pancreas of tumor-bearing mice. Treatment with targeted NPs in gel (tNPs@G) resulted in a notable increase in accumulation within the tumor (1.9-fold) and spleen (1.3-fold) 72 hours post-injection, with minimal systemic exposure and no local cytotoxicity. Intra-tumoral implan-tation of the gel-laden siVAV1 NPs in PC-bearing mice led to a significant reduction in tumor growth and volume (2.6-fold), mediated by the inhibition of both VAV1 mRNA and protein, and improved survival rates. The developed local siRNA delivery system provides a minimally in-vasive and effective therapeutic approach for PC, addressing key drug delivery barriers.https://doi.org/10.33218/001c.136412
spellingShingle Majd Agbaria
Doaa Jbara-Agbaria
Gershon Golomb
Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
Precision Nanomedicine
title Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
title_full Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
title_fullStr Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
title_full_unstemmed Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
title_short Localized delivery of gel-embedded siRNA nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment: Formulation, biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
title_sort localized delivery of gel embedded sirna nanoparticles for pancreatic cancer treatment formulation biodistribution and bioactivity in mice
url https://doi.org/10.33218/001c.136412
work_keys_str_mv AT majdagbaria localizeddeliveryofgelembeddedsirnananoparticlesforpancreaticcancertreatmentformulationbiodistributionandbioactivityinmice
AT doaajbaraagbaria localizeddeliveryofgelembeddedsirnananoparticlesforpancreaticcancertreatmentformulationbiodistributionandbioactivityinmice
AT gershongolomb localizeddeliveryofgelembeddedsirnananoparticlesforpancreaticcancertreatmentformulationbiodistributionandbioactivityinmice