ADSORPTION OF OLIGONUCLEOTIDES ONTO POLYISOHEXYLCYANOACRYLATE NANOPARTICLES PROTECTS THEM AGAINST NUCLEASES AND INCREASES THEIR CELLULAR UPTAKE

Oligonucleotides can be adsorbed on polyisohexylcyanoacrylate nanopart icles in the presence of hydrophobic quartenary ammonium salts. Oligon ucleotides bound to nanoparticles are protected from nuclease attack b oth in buffer and in cell culture media. Cellular uptake of oligonucle otides is increased when they are adsorbed onto nanoparticles as a res ult of the capture of nanoparticles by an endocytic/phagocytic pathway . Intracellular stability towards nucleolytic degradation is increased in the presence of nanoparticles. These results show that nanoparticl es can be considered as convenient carriers for the protection and del ivery of oligonucleotides to cells.