| Autor: |
Laurini E; Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. erik.laurini@dia.units.it., Aulic S; Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy., Skoko N; Biotechnology Development Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy., Marson D; Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy., Fermeglia M; Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy., Pricl S; Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTs), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.; Department of General Biophysics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. |
| Abstrakt: |
siRNAs are emerging as promising therapeutic agents due to their ability to inhibit specific genes in many diseases. However, these tools require specific vehicles in order to be safely delivered to the targeted site. Among different siRNA delivery systems, self-assembled nanomicelles based on amphiphilic cationic dendrons (ACDs) have recently outperformed nanovectors based on covalent carriers. This chapter describes how isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be exploited as one of the best techniques to investigate the self-assembly process of ACDs. Specifically, ITC can provide, as such or via specific analysis methods, a full thermodynamic characterization of these nanomicelles, including their critical micellar concentration, micelle aggregation number, degree of counterion binding, Gibbs free energy of micellization, and its enthalpic and entropic components. |
