Exploring dose and downregulation dynamics in lipid nanoparticles based siRNA therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds promise as a therapeutic approach for various diseases, yet challenges persist in achieving efficient delivery, biodistribution, and minimizing off-target effects. Lipidic nanoformulations are being developed to address these hurdles, but the optimal dose for preclinical investigations remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the optimal dose of nanoformulated siRNA and explore factors influencing dose and biodistribution, informing future research in this field. A comprehensive search across four electronic databases identified 25 potential studies, with 15 selected for meta-analysis after screening. Quality assessment was conducted using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool modified for animal studies based on research question. Study found an average siRNA dose of 1.513 ± 0.377 mg/kg with mean downregulation of 65.79 % achieved, with siRNA-LNPs mainly accumulating in the liver. While individual factors showed no significant correlation, a positive association between dose and downregulation was observed, alongside other influencing factors. Extrapolating intravenous doses to potential oral doses, we suggest an initial oral dose range of 1.5 to 8 mg/kg, considering siRNA-LNPs bioavailability. These findings contribute to advancing RNA interference research and encourage further exploration of siRNA-based treatments in personalized medicine.