Student Work

Nanoparticle Delivery of siRNA

Public

Downloadable Content

open in viewer

Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) were characterized as siRNA transfection agents, in an approach to target superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a protein implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Two UCNP designs were tested: (1) NaYF4:Yb,Er@NaYF4 core/shell nanoparticles with polyethylene imine (PEI) coating and (2) NaYF4:Yb,Er@CaF2 core/shell nanoparticles with a citric acid/PEI coating. The NaYF4-shell particles exhibited a low toxic range, but effective plasmid and siRNA delivery, quantified through green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression and SOD1 knockdown in Western blots. The CaF2shell particles had a greater working range, but were less effective for payload delivery. Continued research is needed to optimize a UCNP with high cell tolerance and high transfection efficiency.

  • This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.
Creator
Publisher
Identifier
  • E-project-042612-115334
Advisor
Year
  • 2012
Date created
  • 2012-04-26
Resource type
Major
Rights statement
Last modified
  • 2021-02-02

Relations

In Collection:

Items

Items

Permanent link to this page: https://digital.wpi.edu/show/5425kc39r