Light-activated RNA interference in human embryonic stem cells.

TitleLight-activated RNA interference in human embryonic stem cells.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsHuang X, Hu Q, Braun GB, Pallaoro A, Morales DP, Zasadzinski J, Clegg DO, Reich NO
JournalBiomaterials
Volume63
Pagination70-9
Date Published2015 Sep
ISSN1878-5905
KeywordsBiotin, Cell Line, Gene Products, tat, Gold, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Humans, Light, Nanocapsules, Octamer Transcription Factor-3, Peptide Fragments, RNA Interference, RNA, Small Interfering, Transfection
Abstract

We describe a near infrared (NIR) light-activated gene silencing method in undifferentiated human embryonic stem cell (hESC) using a plasmonic hollow gold nanoshell (HGN) as the siRNA carrier. Our modular biotin-streptavidin coupling strategy enables positively charged TAT-peptide to coat oligonucleotides-saturated nanoparticles as a stable colloid formation. TAT-peptide coated nanoparticles with dense siRNA loading show efficient penetration into a wide variety of hESC cell lines. The siRNA is freed from the nanoparticles and delivered to the cytosol by femtosecond pulses of NIR light with potentially exquisite spatial and temporal control. The effectiveness of this approach is shown by targeting GFP and Oct4 genes in undifferentiated hESC (H9). The accelerated expression of differentiation markers for all three germ layers resulting from Oct4 knockdown confirms that this method has no detectable adverse effects that limit the range of differentiation. This biocompatible and NIR laser-activated patterning method makes possible single cell resolution of siRNA delivery for diverse studies in stem cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

DOI10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.006
Alternate JournalBiomaterials
PubMed ID26086448
Grant ListR01 CA 152327 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 EB012637 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
T32 CA 121949 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States