Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40364633›Full record

ArticleAdvanced healthcare materials2025

Engineered Chitosan-Derived Nanocarrier for Efficient siRNA Delivery to Peripheral and Central Neurons.

Ana P Spencer, Adriana Vilaça, Miguel Xavier, Rafael Santos, Ariel Ionescu, María Lázaro, Victoria Leiro, Eran Perlson, Sofia C Guimarães, Ben M Maoz and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced healthcare materials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Ana P Spenceri3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-8610-266X
Adriana VilaçaInternational Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-5267-9260
Miguel XavierInternational Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), Braga, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-0447-5439
Rafael Santosi3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0009-0005-3909-1944
Ariel IonescuSagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.ORCID 0000-0002-9889-5628
María Lázaroi3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-8836-396X
Victoria Leiroi3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-8907-9151
Eran PerlsonSagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.ORCID 0000-0001-6047-9613
Sofia C Guimarãesi3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0002-3541-177X
Ben M MaozSagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.ORCID 0000-0002-3823-7682
Ana P Pêgoi3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-5169-328X

Funding

EMBO 10398European Cooperation in Science and Technology 9f51e2a4Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) 2021.00472.CEECINDFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) 2024.01189.BDFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) PTDC/BTM-MAT/4156/2021Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) PTDC/CTM-NAN/3547/2014Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BD/137073/2018Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BPD/122920/2016H2020 European Research Council 101007804Israel Science Foundation 101086329Israel Science Foundation 2248/19 1934/23Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel 3-17351Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel 8-2175Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Gene therapy using small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds promise for treating neurological disorders by silencing specific genes, like the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) gene, which restricts axonal growth. Effective siRNA delivery to neurons, however, poses challenges due to premature nucleic acid degradation and unspecific delivery. Chitosan-based delivery systems, noted for their biocompatibility, face limitations such as low transfection efficiency and lack of neurotropism. Building on the previous successes with neuron-targeted DNA delivery using chitosan, a novel approach for siRNA delivery aimed at PTEN downregulation is proposed. This involves using thiolated trimethyl chitosan (TMCSH)-based siRNA nanoparticles functionalized with the neurotropic C-terminal fragment of the tetanus neurotoxin heavy chain (HC) for efficient delivery to peripheral and central neurons. These polyplexes demonstrate suitable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and no adverse effects on neuronal electrophysiology. Diverse neuronal models, including 3D ex vivo cultures and microfluidics, confirm the polyplexes' efficiency and neurospecificity. HC-functionalization significantly enhances neuronal binding, and live cell imaging reveals fivefold faster retrograde transport along axons. Furthermore, siRNA delivery targeting PTEN promoted axonal outgrowth in embryonic cortical neurons. In conclusion, the proposed polyplexes represent a promising platform for neuronal siRNA delivery, offering potential for clinical translation and therapeutic applications.

Indexed as

ChitosanNanoparticlesNeuronsRNA, Small InterferingAnimalsHumansMicePTEN PhosphohydrolaseTetanus ToxinTransfectionChitosanPTEN PhosphohydrolaseRNA, Small InterferingTetanus Toxinchitosangene therapymicrofluidicsPTENsiRNA

Identifiers

PMID40364633
PMCPMC12147987

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.