RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To prepare amphiphilic polycaprolactone-poly (arginine polymer) (PCL-R15)/siRNA Nanopexes, and two kinds of nanoparticles with different particle size were prepared by different process. After encapsulated siRNA with electrostatic interaction, both of two nanoplexes (NR60/siRNA and NR160/siRNA) were used to compare the effects in vitro cell levels. METHODS: The particle size and Zeta potential, siRNA loading and protection ability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake mechanism and gene silencing efficiency of the two nanoplexes were investigated. RESULTS: The results show that the two nanoplexes have similar siRNA protection ability and cytotoxicity, but the difference between the two sizes is about 100 nm and the potential difference is about 20 mV. Moreover, NR160/siRNA complexes have higher cell uptake efficiency, more complex uptake pathways, and show greater gene silencing efficiency. CONCLUSION: These nanoplexes with different particle sizes can cause different transfection efficiency for siRNA delivery in cells.