Hydrotalcite intercalated siRNA: computational characterization of the interlayer environment

Hong Zhang, Defang Ouyang, Vinuthaa Murthy, Yunyi Wong, Zhiping Xu, Sean Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we explore the structural and dynamical properties of siRNA within the intercalated environment of a Mg:Al 2:1 Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticle. An ab initio force field (Condensed-phase Optimized Molecular Potentials for Atomistic Simulation Studies: COMPASS) is used for the MD simulations of the hybrid organic-inorganic systems. The structure, arrangement, mobility, close contacts and hydrogen bonds associated with the intercalated RNA are examined and contrasted with those of the isolated RNA. Computed powder X-ray diffraction patterns are also compared with related LDH-DNA experiments. As a method of probing whether the intercalated environment approximates the crystalline or rather the aqueous state, we explore the stability of the principle parameters (e.g., the major groove width) that differentiate both A- and A'- crystalline forms of siRNA and contrast this with recent findings for the same siRNA simulated in water. We find the crystalline forms remain structurally distinct when intercalated, whereas this is not the case in water. Implications for the stability of hybrid LDH-RNA systems are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)296-313
Number of pages8
JournalPharmaceutics
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jun 2012

Bibliographical note

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Keywords

  • layered double hydroxide
  • molecular dynamics simulations
  • siRNA delivery
  • gene therapy

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