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Aptamer-MiRNA Conjugates for Cancer Cell-Targeted Delivery

  • Protocol
SiRNA Delivery Methods

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1364))

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that effectively regulate the expression of a wide variety of genes. Increasing evidences have shown a fundamental role of miRNAs in cancer initiation and progression, thus indicating these molecules among the most promising for new approaches in cancer therapy. However, several hurdles limit the translation of miRNAs into the clinic. One of the most critical aspects is represented by the lack of a safe and reliable way to selectively target organs and tissues. Therefore, the development of cell-specific delivery means has become an essential step for the translation of miRNA-based therapeutics to clinic for cancer management. To this end aptamer-based approaches may provide efficient delivery tools for the selective accumulation of miRNA to target tumors, their intracellular uptake, processing, and functional silencing of target genes. In this chapter, we discuss the direct conjugation of miRNAs to aptamers against transmembrane receptors as innovative experimental approach for their selective delivery to cancer cells.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by funds from: MIUR grant, MERIT RBNE08YFN3_001 (VdF), AIRC # 13345 (VdF); from the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance to the CNR for the Project FaReBio di Qualità (VdF); Grant CNR “Medicina Personalizzata” (VdF); Compagnia San Paolo # 2011.1172 (VdF); CNR Flagship Project NanoMax (DESIRED) 2012–2014 (VdF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via T. de Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy

    Carla L. Esposito, Silvia Catuogno & Vittorio de Franciscis

Authors
  1. Carla L. Esposito
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  2. Silvia Catuogno
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  3. Vittorio de Franciscis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vittorio de Franciscis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA

    Kato Shum

  2. Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA

    John Rossi

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Esposito, C.L., Catuogno, S., de Franciscis, V. (2016). Aptamer-MiRNA Conjugates for Cancer Cell-Targeted Delivery. In: Shum, K., Rossi, J. (eds) SiRNA Delivery Methods. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1364. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3112-5_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3112-5_16

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3111-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3112-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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