Synthesis and Evaluation of Caged siRNAs with Single cRGD Modification for Photoregulating RNA Interference

We designed and synthesized caged siRNAs with photolabile linker and single cRGD peptide modifications for the photoregulation of gene expression. Photolabile linker and cRGD were inserted at 5' terminus of siRNAs to obtain cRGD-modified caged siRNAs. All these caged siRNAs could be activated through light activation to release the native siRNAs and further achieve the photoregulation of gene silencing of two exogenous reporter genes (firefly luciferase and green fluorescent protein, GFP) and one endogenous gene (the mitosis motor protein, Eg5). The intracellular distribution and cellular uptake pathways of these caged siRNAs were also investigated. Tumor-bearing mice were further used to demonstrate the photoregulation of gene silencing with cRGD-modified caged siRNAs in vivo. Overall, the data support the use of this new generation of caged siRNAs in cancer therapy.