siRNA-lipid nanoparticles with long-term storage stability facilitate potent gene-silencing in vivo

Considerable efforts have been directed towards discovering and developing delivery vehicles for RNA therapeutics. While most studies emphasize the efficacy and safety of these delivery vehicles, few reports conduct a comprehensive assessment of their storage stability, a critical property for practical applications. Here, we report a potent and safe lipid nanoparticle with long-term storage stability. Through chemical synthesis and screening of cationic lipids, a formulation has been identified that enables potent knockdown of hepatocyte proteins in mice upon intravenous administration (siRNA ED50 similar to 0.02 mg/kg). Toxicity studies revealed that a dose of 2 mg/kg was well tolerated in rats, the most sensitive rodent model. We identified that a cyclic chemical structure in cationic lipids improved particle stability. The nanoparticles showed over 1.5 year storage stability as a liquid, with over 90% siRNA encapsulation without any changes in particle size. This novel delivery material has promising potential as a drug product that could bring RNA therapeutics to the treatment of liver-related disorders. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.