Drug Delivery and Translational Research - Featured Article: March 2023
Read the featured article from the March 2023 issue! (this opens in a new tab)
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of highly stable and closed-loop noncoding RNA that are involved in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that high circ_0058051 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of HCC patients. We also showed here that circ_0058051 knockdown attenuated the proliferation and colony formation, while inhibited migration of HCC cells. The findings underscore the potential of circ_0058051 as a therapeutic target for HCC. We synthesized a novel small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery system, PEG-PCL-PEI-C14-SPIONs (PPPCSs), based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). PPPCSs protected the siRNA of circ_0058051 from degradation in serum and effectively delivered siRNA into SMMC-7721 cells. Meanwhile, intravenous injection of the PPPCSs/siRNA complex could inhibit tumor growth in the subcutaneous tumor model. In addition, the nanocomposite was not toxic to the organs of nude mice. Collectively, PPPCSs/si-circ_0058051 complex may provide a novel and promising method of HCC treatment.