Silencing of DNA repair sensitizes pediatric brain tumor cells to γ-irradiation using gold nanoparticles

•Gold nanoparticles based delivery vehicle for siRNA.•Knocked down of Ape1 expression by NP:siRNA.•Silencing of DNA repair sensitizes pediatric brain tumor cells to γ-irradiation.

We present a nanoparticle (NP)-mediated delivery vehicle that effectively carries and protects siRNA in pediatric ependymoma (EP) and medulloblastoma (MB) cells. The delivery vehicle consists of gold NPs coated with a polymeric shell comprising polyethylene glycol (PG), chitosan and polyethyleneimine (Au-CP-PEI). NPs loaded with siRNA knocked down Ape1 expression by over 75% in both MB and EP cells. Further, this reduction in Ape1 expression is associated with an increase in DNA damage after irradiation. The results indicate that NP-associated delivery of siApe1 is a feasible approach to circumventing pediatric brain tumor resistance to radiation therapy.

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