RNA interference (RNAi) is an endogenous pathway that uses double-stranded RNA to suppress the expression of a target mRNA, resulting in sequence-specific gene silencing. Delivering siRNA to target cells or tissues has been one of the major challenges in RNAi research. Due to their large size and polyanionic backbone, bare siRNAs cannot diffuse across cell membranes. Therefore, receptor-targeted ligands can be used to deliver siRNAs to target cells and tissues. For example, vitamin folic acid, which has been widely used as a drug delivery system to target folate receptors (FRs) in tumor cells, is a cell surface glycoprotein that binds folate with high affinity. These receptors are expressed at low levels in most tissues because their expression is restricted to cells important for folate uptake and embryonic development, but they are highly overexpressed on the surface of many cancers. This includes about 90% of ovarian cancers as well as breast, endometrial, brain and kidney cancers. Once bound to FR, folate enters the cell via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Remarkably, folate binding retains the ability to bind to and be internalized by this receptor, making FR an attractive molecular target for cancer research.
BOC Sciences has expert technical support to provide accurate and affordable folic acid–siRNA conjugates services.
We can tailor this service to your research interest. Please feel free to contact us or send us an inquiry directly and we will be happy to assist you.
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