Role of nanotechnology in epigenetic reprogramming.

With the recent advances in regenerative medicine, nanotechnology has created a niche for itself as a promising avenue in this field. Innumerable studies have been carried out by researchers using virus-based methodologies for the purpose of epigenetic reprogramming. Although this method is ostensibly safe, nonetheless, they are tagged with the risk of viral genome integration into the host genome or insertional mutagenesis.

Cationic cholesterol-modified gelatin as an in vitro siRNA delivery vehicle.

Polymeric micelle prepared through the self-assembly of cationic cholesterol-modified gelatin was tested for siRNA delivery. It exerted the desired effect of gene knockdown in HeLa cells stably expressing the luciferase gene and achieved a two-fold increase in the knockdown ability when compared to Lipofectamine® 2000. It was found that the polymeric micelle exhibited excellent stability and increased the biological stability of the siRNA in serum.