Single-walled carbon nanotube - siRNA interface (SWCNT-siRNA interface) (SWCNT-siRNA interface)

The single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) - siRNA interface is a specialized drug delivery platform designed to overcome the physiological barriers associated with RNA interference (RNAi) therapies. SWCNTs are cylindrical nanostructures composed of a single layer of carbon atoms that possess unique electronic and mechanical properties, allowing them to serve as efficient carriers for nucleic acids (Lacerda et al., 2012). The interface between the SWCNT and siRNA is typically formed through non-covalent interactions, such as pi-pi stacking and electrostatic forces, which stabilize the siRNA against nuclease-mediated degradation while maintaining its biological activity. This complex facilitates the transport of siRNA across the hydrophobic cell membrane, a significant challenge for naked, negatively charged RNA molecules. Once internalized, the siRNA is released to participate in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) pathway, enabling the precise knockdown of disease-associated genes (Kam et al., 2005). While promising for treating conditions like cancer and viral infections, the use of SWCNTs raises significant safety concerns regarding their long-term biocompatibility, potential for inducing oxidative stress, and slow clearance from the body (Kostarelos et al., 2009). Despite these challenges, the SWCNT-siRNA interface remains a significant area of research for non-viral gene therapy delivery systems (Bartholomeusz et al., 2009).

Other names

SWCNT-siRNA complexCarbon nanotube-mediated siRNA delivery systemSWNT-siRNA conjugateNanotube-nucleic acid interface

The SWCNT-siRNA interface facilitates the delivery of siRNA into the cytoplasm by protecting the RNA from enzymatic degradation and enabling cellular uptake via endocytosis or direct membrane translocation (Kam et al., 2005). Once inside, the siRNA is released to engage the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), leading to the sequence-specific degradation of target mRNA and subsequent gene knockdown (Bartholomeusz et al., 2009).