TfR1-Binding Peptide Conjugation Facilitates Robust and Specific siRNA Delivery to the Central Nervous System

Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) is a ubiquitously expressed receptor characterized by rapid internalization kinetics and efficient receptor recycling, making it an attractive target for drug delivery. Herein, we investigated the potential of TfR1-binding peptide-siRNA conjugates for central nervous system (CNS)-specific gene silencing. A panel of TfR1-binding peptides and conjugation linkers were synthesized to enable siRNA attachment and evaluate their gene-silencing effects. Conjugation with the hTfR No. 894 peptide achieved effective siRNA delivery both in vitro and in vivo . Compared to ribose 2’- O -hexadecyl (C16)-siRNA conjugates, the hTfR No. 894-siRNA conjugation ( POC2 ) elicited favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics and robust and durable silencing of the target gene across CNS regions following local administration, with minimal impact on peripheral tissues. These findings support TfR1-binding peptide conjugation as a promising strategy for CNS-targeted siRNA delivery.