Effective treatment of retinal neovascular leakage with fusogenic porous silicon nanoparticles delivering VEGF-siRNA - Supplementary figures

Aim: To evaluate an intravitreally injected nanoparticle platform designed to deliver VEGF-A siRNA

to inhibit retinal neovascular leakage as a new treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and

diabetic macular edema. Materials & methods: Fusogenic lipid-coated porous silicon nanoparticles loaded

with VEGF-A siRNA, and pendant neovascular integrin-homing iRGD, were evaluated for efficacy by

intravitreal injection in a rabbit model of retinal neovascularization. Results: For 12 weeks post-treatment,

a reduction in vascular leakage was observed for treated diseased eyes versus control eyes (p = 0.0137),

with a corresponding reduction in vitreous VEGF-A. Conclusion: Fusogenic lipid-coated porous silicon

nanoparticles siRNA delivery provides persistent knockdown of VEGF-A and reduced leakage in a rabbit

model of retinal neovascularization as a potential new intraocular therapeutic.