Novel Gelatin–Siloxane Nanoparticles Multiple Modified by Cationic Peptide and Aptamers as Efficient Gene Vector

An excellent gene vector is of great importance for the development of the gene therapy. Gelatin–siloxane nanoparticles (GS NPs) with controlled size and surface charge were synthesized through a two-step sol–gel process for gene vector. In order to increase the efficiency of tumour targeting, HIV-derived Tat peptide and TTA1, a kind of modified RNA aptamer, were further grafted onto GS NPs (GS-PEG-TTA1/TAT NPs). It was demonstrated in this article that gelatin-siloxane nanoparticles (GS NPs) have the significant characteristic of being innocuous, small, covered with positive charge and even have been modified with PEG, TTA1, and TAT. The modified nanoparticles, GS-PEG-TTA1/TAT, not only have the ability of crossing the cell membrane with DNA accompanied effectively, but also could target the U251 cells and impel the DNA express right in the cells with the help of aptamer TTA1.