# Normalizing aberrant metabolism in ovarian cancer by a unique drug delivery system

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2021 · $316,405

## Abstract

Gene silencing using small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a viable therapeutic approach but, limited in translation
due to lack of effective delivery systems. Developing effective and non-toxic delivery system will translate siRNA-
based therapeutics to clinics. Here, using in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models, we propose to develop
a new type of siRNA delivery system for effective gene silencing and therapeutic applications.
 We recently reported that MICU1, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, functions as a metabolic
switch that promotes glycolysis and therapy resistance in ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, lack of pharmacological
inhibitors and effective strategies to silence MICU1 in vivo posit a significant challenge against future clinical
translation of MICU1-targeted therapy. Therefore, MICU1 could serve as a new therapeutic target to validate
silencing and therapeutic efficacy of our new siRNA delivery platform and provides opportunity to normalize
aberrant metabolism responsible for therapy resistance. Hence, we plan to develop a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-
based liposomal formulation (AuroLiposome) for siRNA delivery to effectively silence MICU1 in vivo.
 To effectively silence MICU1 in vivo we have developed DOPC-DOTAP based conventional
nanoliposomal siRNA delivery platforms (MICU1 siRNA-cLPs). Interestingly, AuNP (20 nm size)-doped
formulation (MICU1 siRNA-AuroLPs) exhibited enhanced efficacy in silencing MICU1, requiring 3-4-fold lower
siRNA concentrations than MICU1 siRNA-cLPs or commercially available transfection reagents such as
Hiperfect, RNAiMax and Lipofectamine 3000. Enhanced silencing was reflected in clonal growth assays; MICU1
siRNA-AuroLPs inhibited clonal growth of HGSOCs more efficiently (~90%) than MICU1 siRNA-cLPs (~50%) or
Hiperfect (~30%). Importantly MICU1 siRNA-AuroLPs inhibited tumor growth more effectively (~75%) compared
to MICU1 siRNA-cLPs (~35 %). Importantly, using chemical inhibitors we showed that incorporation of AuNP
switched intracellular uptake pathway of MICU1 siRNA-cLPs from a combination of clathrin and caveolar
mediated endocytosis to mostly caveolar uptake pathway. Hence, we hypothesize that incorporation of AuNP in
nanoliposomal formulation triggers caveolar uptake of AuroLiposome (AuroLPs) resulting in reduced degradation
of siRNA-AuroLPs in lysosome and thus enhancing silencing efficacy. We will use specific aims below to test
the hypothesis and accomplish overall objectives;
Aim1: Determining mechanisms of enhanced gene silencing efficacy due to gold doping.
Aim 2: Determining pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and toxicity of the optimized nanoformulation.
Aim 3: Determining therapeutic efficacy in patent derived xenografts (Pdx) and syngeneic mouse model.
Successful completion of the project will provide a generalized siRNA delivery approach for any in vitro and in
vivo gene silencing applications and a potential translatable strategy to normalize aberrant metabolism to
overcome thera...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10131000
- **Project number:** 1R01CA253391-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Resham Bhattacharya
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $316,405
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10131000

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10131000, Normalizing aberrant metabolism in ovarian cancer by a unique drug delivery system (1R01CA253391-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10131000. Licensed CC0.

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