Biodegradable silicon nanoneedles delivering nucleic acids intracellularly induce localized in vivo neovascularization

C. Chiappini, Enrica De Rosa, J. O. Martinez, X. Liu, J. Steele, M. M. Stevens, E. Tasciotti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

377 Scopus citations

Abstract

The controlled delivery of nucleic acids to selected tissues remains an inefficient process mired by low transfection efficacy, poor scalability because of varying efficiency with cell type and location, and questionable safety as a result of toxicity issues arising from the typical materials and procedures employed. High efficiency and minimal toxicity in vitro has been shown for intracellular delivery of nuclei acids by using nanoneedles, yet extending these characteristics to in vivo delivery has been difficult, as current interfacing strategies rely on complex equipment or active cell internalization through prolonged interfacing. Here, we show that a tunable array of biodegradable nanoneedles fabricated by metal-assisted chemical etching of silicon can access the cytosol to co-deliver DNA and siRNA with an efficiency greater than 90%, and that in vivo the nanoneedles transfect the VEGF-165 gene, inducing sustained neovascularization and a localized sixfold increase in blood perfusion in a target region of the muscle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberdoi:10.1038/nmat4249
Pages (from-to)532-539
Number of pages8
JournalNature materials
Volume14
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Biodegradable silicon nanoneedles delivering nucleic acids intracellularly induce localized in vivo neovascularization'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this