Oral administration of ginger-derived nanolipids loaded with siRNA as a novel approach for efficient siRNA drug delivery to treat ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To develop novel siRNA delivery system overcoming the limitations of synthetic nanoparticles, such as potential side effects, nonspecificity and economic production for ulcerative colitis therapy.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Nanoparticles composed of edible ginger-derived lipid, termed ginger-derived lipid vehicles (GDLVs) were generated from ginger lipids through hydration of a lipid film, a commonly used method for a liposome fabrication. The morphology, biocompatibility and transfection efficiency of GDLVs loaded with siRNA-CD98 (siRNA-CD98/GDLVs) were characterized by standard methods.

RESULTS: Orally administered siRNA-CD98/GDLVs were effectively targeted specifically to colon tissues, resulting in reduced expression of CD98.

CONCLUSION: These GDLVs have great promise as efficient siRNA-delivery vehicles while potentially obviating issues related to the traditional synthetic nanoparticles. As such, they help shift the current paradigm of siRNA delivery away from artificially synthesized nanoparticles toward the use of naturally derived nanovehicles from edible plants.