PEG-Poly(amino acid)s/MicroRNA Complex Nanoparticles Effectively Arrest the Growth and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer.

One of the biggest challenges in developing microRNA (miRNA) based therapeutics is the method of delivery. Herein we report the design and synthesis of mPEG-poly(amino acid)s, which we used as a novel nanocarrier for the delivery of miRNA-139-5p. The PEG-poly(amino acid)s/miRNA-139-5p nanoparticle complex is more effective at suppressing tumor growth and migration in mice with colorectal cancer than when treated with miRNA-139-5p solution and blank nanoparticles individually. Our results suggest that PEG-poly(amino acid)s are a promising non-viral gene vector for the delivery of miRNAs to treat cancers.