Comparison of Avidin, Neutravidin, and Streptavidin as Nanocarriers for Efficient siRNA Delivery

Protein based drug delivery carrier has been one of the most employed, modalities biophamiaceuticals. In this Study we have compared avidin and its two analogues, neutravidin and streptavidin, as nanocarriers for the delivery of biotin-labeled siRNA with the help of: biotinylated cholesterol (targeting ligand) and protamine (condensing agent). These proteins have similar binding affinity to biotin but substantial difference in their physical and chemical. characteristics. Here, we have shown how these characteristics affect the size, cellular uptake, and activity of the avidin-based siRNA nano complex. In contrast to avidin and streptavidin nanocomplexes, neutravidin-based nanocomplex shows very low endosome entrapment and, high Cyt6plasmic localization,at extended times. High amount of the siRNA,released cytoplasm by neutravidin-based nanocomplex at extended times (24 results in extensive and sustained PCBP2 gene silencing activity in HSC-T6 rat hepatic, stellate cells.,Neutravidin-based nanocomplex shows significantly low exocytosis comparison to the streptavidin-based nanocomplex. Avidin-, neutravidin-, and streptavidin-hased naricomplexs are similar in size and had no significant erotbxicity in, transfected HSC-T6 cells or inflammatory,cytokine induction in a whole,blood assay. compared to free siRNA, the neutravidin-based siRNA nanocomplex exhibits higher accumulation. at 2 h in the liver of the rats with CCI4 induced liver fibrosis. Neutravidin has therefore been shown to be the most promising avidin analogue for the delivery of siRNA.