We describe a safe and highly effective non-viral vector system based on β-
cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified
dendrimer-entrapped
gold nanoparticles (Au DENPs) for improved delivery
small interfering RNA (
siRNA) to
glioblastoma cells. In our approach, we utilized
amine-terminated generation 5
poly(amidoamine)
dendrimers partially grafted with β-CD as a nanoreactor to entrap Au NPs. The acquired β-CD-modified Au DENPs (Au DENPs-β-CD) were complexed with two different types of therapeutic
siRNA (
B-cell lymphoma/
leukemia-2 (Bcl-2)
siRNA and
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF)
siRNA). The
siRNA compression ability of the Au DENPs-β-CD was evaluated by various methods. The cytocompatibility of the vector/
siRNA polyplexes was assessed by viability assay of cells. The
siRNA transfection capability of the formed Au DENPs-β-CD vector was evaluated by flow cytometric assay of the cellular uptake of the polyplexes and Western blot assays of the Bcl-2 and
VEGF protein expression. Our data reveals that the formed Au DENPs-β-CD carrier enables efficiently delivery of
siRNA to
glioma cells, has good cytocompatibility once complexed with the
siRNA, and enables enhanced gene silencing to inhibit the expression of Bcl-2 and
VEGF proteins. The developed Au DENPs-β-CD vector may be used for efficient
siRNA delivery to different biosystems for therapeutic purposes.