Advantages of ethanol dilution method for preparing GALA-modified liposomal siRNA carriers on the in vivo gene knockdown efficiency in pulmonary endothelium

We previously reported that a multifunctional envelope-type nano device (MEND) modified with a GALA peptide (GALA/MEND) exerted dual functions; effective targeting the pulmonary endothelium and endosomal escape. The GALA/MEND containing encapsulated siRNA was originally prepared by the film coated hydration method (GALA/MENDHyd). However, an ethanol dilution method was found to be more appropriate for scaling up the preparation of this liposomal nanoparticle. In this study, we report on the preparation of a GALA/MEND based on the principal of the ethanol dilution (GALA/MENDEtOH). The gene knockdown efficiency of the MENDHyd and MENDEtOH without GALA-modification was equivalent regardless of the method used in the preparation. The GALA/MENDEtOH induced more efficient gene silencing in the pulmonary endothelium (ED50; approximately 0.17 mg siRNA/kg) compared to the GALA/MENDHyd. The GALA/MENDEtOH escaped from endosomes more rapidly than GALA/MENDHyd, while the pharmacokinetics and lung accumulation of GALA/MENDEtOH and GALA/MENDHyd were comparable after i.v. administration. Collectively, the ethanol dilution method improves the function of the GALA/MEND as a lung-targeting siRNA carrier.