Development Of Novel Lipidic Particles For Sirna Delivery That Are Highly Effective After 12 Months Storage

Liposomes are versatile and well-proven as a means to deliver nucleic acids into cells. Most of the formulation procedures used are labour intensive and result in unstable end products. We have previously reported on the development of a simple, yet efficient, hydration-of-freeze-dried-matrix (HFDM) method to entrap siRNA within lipid particles. Here we show that the particles are stable up to 12 months after storage at room temperature (RT), 4 degrees C or -20 degrees C. While RT storage results in changes in particle size and polydispersity, gene silencing of all particles was similar to freshly prepared particles following storage for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months at all temperatures. This is the first report of such long-term stability in siRNA-loaded liposomes.