CATIONIC SOLID-LIPID NANOPARTICLES AS VECTORS FOR RNA DELIVERY

Gene transfer is an important advance in the treatment of both genetic and acquired diseases, since gene therapy is one of the most important weapons against cancer and genetic diseases. DNA and RNA as biological macromolecules have the potential characteristics for formation of nanostructures. Nanotechnology in the last decade has a great impact in life sciences. In this study the suitability of cationically modified solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLN) as a nonviral vector for gene delivery was investigated, in order to obtain a new kind of vector able to condenseand protect RNA. We describe the production of a new type of cationic nanoparticles and we test their ability to form complexeswith RNA and their toxicity and biocompatible properties on a living organism as sea urchin.