Accell siRNA Simplifies Delivery to Cells and Significantly Improves
Effectiveness of RNAi in Key Life Sciences Applications
WALTHAM, Mass., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, has
developed a breakthrough gene-silencing tool that greatly simplifies RNA-
interference (RNAi) technology and eliminates barriers associated with
previous cellular delivery methods. The advance is expected to accelerate
research and drug discovery in many important life sciences fields, including
neuroscience, immunology, stem-cell science and oncology.
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon Accell(TM) siRNA is a novel form of short-
interfering RNA (siRNA) that is absorbed directly by cells without the use of
conventional delivery methods such as transfection reagents, viruses or
electroporation. Dharmacon Accell siRNA effectively silences genes in all cell
types tested to date.
RNAi is a powerful technology used to silence, or knock down, target genes
and the proteins they produce, revealing their role in biological pathways and
disease processes. Understanding gene function is critical for the development
of drugs targeting those genes.
"Previous technologies for delivering siRNA into difficult cell types,
such as primary cells, suspension cells, stem cells and neurons, were often
ineffective and resulted in high levels of cell death," said Dr. Ian Jardine,
vice president of global research and development for Thermo Fisher
Scientific. "Dharmacon Accell is the only siRNA molecule that has been able to
penetrate every cell type we have tested -- without the need for delivery
reagents that can skew experimental results. With Dharmacon Accell siRNA and
our Dharmacon SMARTvector shRNA advancement, scientists now have an effective
RNAi tool set for biomedical and pharmaceutical research that will have broad
implications for human health."
Dharmacon Accell siRNA is simply mixed with the optimized Accell delivery
media, then added to cultured cells. It is an easy two-step process that saves
researchers significant time in their laboratories and avoids the experimental
variability caused by toxicity and off-target effects of conventional siRNA
delivery methods.
"There is often a narrow window of conditions in which conventional siRNA
delivery is effective. Dharmacon Accell siRNA achieves highly efficient siRNA
delivery for gene silencing without the need for optimization," explained
Jardine. "In addition, the elimination of delivery reagents, along with the
associated non-specific effects, greatly simplifies the interpretation of RNAi
experiments."
Preliminary studies also suggest that long-term silencing of up to 30 days
can now be achieved through repeated application of Dharmacon Accell siRNA --
previously not possible with conventional synthetic siRNA reagents.
Visit www.thermo.com/dharmacon to purchase, or for more information on
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon Accell siRNA.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and
safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees
and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies,
hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions
and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process
control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo
Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from
routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers
customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as
laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable
integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a
complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services
used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we
offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously
advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery,
enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees
alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
CONTACT
Media
Lori Gorski
+1-781-622-1242
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com
Investors
Ken Apicerno
+1-781-622-1111
ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com
both of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
