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Folate Receptor-Targeting Liposomes For The Delivery Of Antisense Molecules To Cancer Cells, Colin J. Way

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

RNAi (RNA interference) is emerging as a promising tool for cancer therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules are activated in that pathway to reduce specific tumour cell RNAs that mediate malignancy. SiRNA treatment has been primarily limited to in vitro studies: lack of efficient, preferential in vivo delivery to target cells remains a major obstacle. Many human tumours overexpress folate receptors (FR), and siRNA-mediated reduction of thymidylate synthase (TS) sensitizes tumour cells to anti-TS drugs. I developed a folate-containing cationic liposome to preferentially deliver anti-TS siRNA to FR-expressing human tumour cells. I show, in vitro, that liposome-encapsulated siRNA (but …