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Why self-delivering

Key advantages over RNAi and gene-editing

Discover why the AUMsilence platform outperforms siRNA, shRNA, and CRISPR-based methods

AUMsilence sdASO RNA silencing technology offers numerous advantages that empower researchers across various disciplines. Our platform combines innovative chemistry, AI-driven design, and self-delivering capabilities to provide best-in-class RNA-silencing products. The same AUMsilence sdASOs are used in vitro and in vivo, in cancer cells and in neurons. They are designed to achieve superior results with unprecedented ease.

Self-delivery

Transfection-free delivery

AUMsilence sdASOs enter cells without the need for transfection reagents

Unlike siRNAs and other gene silencing technologies, AUMsilence self-delivering antisense oligonucleotides (sdASO), including AUMsilence, AUMantagomir, AUMlnc, AUMsilence V+, AUMblock, and AUMsplice, are taken up by endocytosis with no transfection reagent, no carrier and no vector. This revolutionary capability eliminates one of the biggest challenges in gene silencing research.

  • Add and knockdown approach

    Add sdASO to cell culture or inject them in vivo: no need for lipid transfection reagents, electroporation, or viral vectors. This dramatically simplifies your workflow and saves both time and resources.

  • Preserve cell health

    Transfection reagents often cause cellular stress, toxicity, and off-target effects. By eliminating these delivery vehicles, sdASO maintain cell viability and provide cleaner results, especially in sensitive cell types.

  • Reduce experimental variables

    Transfection efficiency is a major source of variation in gene silencing experiments. AUMsilence sdASOs remove this variable, leading to more consistent and reproducible results across replicates and between different labs.

A rendering of a single immune cell with a ruffled surface, small particles scattered around it
An immune cell, particles around it

Compatibility

Broad compatibility

Knockdown in challenging models

One of the most significant advantages of AUMsilence sdASO technology is its effectiveness in cell types and biological systems where other methods often fail. This opens up entirely new research possibilities in fields like immunology, neuroscience, and developmental biology.

  • Hard-to-transfect cells

    AUMsilence sdASO products show excellent uptake in notoriously difficult cell types like primary immune cells (T cells, B cells, macrophages), neurons, stem cells, and suspension cell lines. This gives you access to more physiologically relevant models for your research.

  • In vivo performance

    Unlike siRNAs that require complex delivery formulations, AUMsilence sdASO products can be administered systemically or locally in animal models with minimal formulation. In mice they have silenced their target after a systemic dose into the tail vein, and after a local dose into the intrathecal space.

  • 3D cultures and tissues

    AUMsilence sdASO products can penetrate 3D cell cultures, organoids, and tissue explants where transfection reagents often fail due to poor penetration. This allows for gene silencing studies in more complex, tissue-like environments that better mimic in vivo conditions.

A rendering of a network of neurons, their cell bodies lit against a dark ground
A network of neurons, cell bodies lit

High specificity

High specificity and low off-target effects

AUMsilence platform is designed to provide maximum targeting precision. Using advanced chemistry and AI-driven design, we ensure specific binding to target RNAs with minimal off-target effects.

  • No RISC-associated off-targets

    Unlike siRNAs, which often cause off-target effects through the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) mechanism, AUMsilence sdASOs work independently of RISC. This eliminates seed region-based off-target effects that commonly plague RNAi approaches.

  • AI-optimized design

    We employ artificial intelligence to design ASO sequences with optimal target binding properties. AUM BioTech's algorithms analyze RNA structure, accessibility, and sequence uniqueness to create ASOs with maximum efficacy and specificity for your target of interest.

  • Cleaner data, confident results

    High specificity means that phenotypic changes observed after knockdown can be confidently attributed to your target gene. This is crucial for publication-quality data and for making reliable conclusions about gene function in your research.

FigurePairing to the target
An antisense oligonucleotide paired base by base to the stretch of its target RNA that matches its sequence, with one mismatched position left unpairedA single antisense oligonucleotide drawn as filled beads on a ribbon, sitting over a stretch of a longer target RNA drawn beneath it. A thin rung joins each bead to the base beneath it where the two pair, labeled paired base by base; the RNA runs on past the oligonucleotide at both ends with no rungs there. At one position the base beneath is turned aside and no rung is drawn, labeled mismatch: no pair. No enzyme is drawn and nothing is cut; the words recognition follows the sequence stand beneath. The figure is a schematic and not to scale.PAIRED BASE BY BASEMISMATCH: NO PAIRANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDETARGET RNARecognition follows the sequence
Schematic, not to scale.
What the figure asserts, and its references
  1. An antisense oligonucleotide finds its target by base pairing: it binds the stretch of RNA whose sequence is complementary to its own, base by base along that stretch, so which RNA it binds follows from its sequence. [R01] [R02]
  2. Targeted at a single-base difference between two transcripts, an oligonucleotide can inhibit the transcript that matches it selectively over the one it mismatches at that base; the selectivity depends critically on the oligonucleotide's length and its concentration, and follows from the fraction of each target bound at the oligonucleotide's affinity for it. [R03]
  1. [R01] Crooke ST, Liang XH, Baker BF, Crooke RM (2021). Antisense technology: A review. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 296:100416. PMID 33600796, doi 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100416.
  2. [R02] Kole R, Krainer AR, Altman S (2012). RNA therapeutics: beyond RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotides. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 11:125-140. PMID 22262036, doi 10.1038/nrd3625.
  3. [R03] Monia BP, Johnston JF, Ecker DJ, Zounes MA, Lima WF, Freier SM (1992). Selective inhibition of mutant Ha-ras mRNA expression by antisense oligonucleotides. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 267:19954-19962. PMID 1400312, doi 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)88650-7.

Safety and efficacy

Safety and non-toxicity

AUMsilence sdASOs are engineered to maintain high cell viability while delivering potent knockdown. This balance of efficacy and safety makes them ideal for sensitive experiments and translational research.

  • Non-toxic at effective concentrations

    AUMsilence sdASOs show minimal toxicity at doses required for efficient knockdown. By avoiding the need for transfection reagents (which can be toxic themselves), AUMsilence sdASO maintain cell health and reduce experimental artifacts.

  • Potent knockdown

    AUMsilence sdASOs deliver 70-95% knockdown. Knockdown is target and cell-type dependent. This high level of efficacy means clear phenotypic effects can be observed, even for genes where substantial reduction is needed to see a biological response.

A rendering of rounded cells with textured surfaces, one in focus in front of others
Rounded cells, one in focus

Versatility

In-depth control and versatility

AUMsilence unified platform gives you unprecedented flexibility in how, when, and where you silence genes.

  • Target any RNA class

    sdASO products can effectively target mRNAs (AUMsilence), microRNAs (AUMantagomir), and long non-coding RNAs (AUMlnc), allowing you to explore all aspects of RNA biology with a single technology platform. We also offer products for viral RNA targeting (AUMsilence V+), RNA blocking (AUMblock), and splice modulation (AUMsplice).

  • Nuclear and cytoplasmic activity

    Unlike siRNAs which primarily function in the cytoplasm, AUMsilence sdASO can target RNAs in both nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments. This means nuclear-retained lncRNAs and pre-mRNAs can be silenced, expanding your experimental possibilities.

  • Rapid, scalable, and reversible

    Gene silencing with sdASO is fast, scales easily to high-throughput experiments, and is reversible, allowing for temporal studies of gene function without permanent genetic modifications.

A scientist in safety glasses and gloves holding a flask of pink culture medium up to the light
Culture medium held up to the light

RNA manipulation

Blocking and splice modulation

Beyond gene silencing

Our expanded sdASO portfolio includes tools for RNA manipulation beyond traditional knockdown. With AUMblock sdASO and AUMsplice sdASO, researchers can now precisely modulate RNA function and processing with the same self-delivering convenience.

  • Steric blocking with AUMblock sdASO

    AUMblock sdASO is designed to bind RNA without recruiting RNase H, instead physically blocking interactions with proteins or other RNAs. This steric hindrance approach enables researchers to selectively inhibit RNA function without cleaving the transcript: ideal for studying RNA-protein interactions, blocking miRNA binding sites, or preventing ribosome association.

  • Splice modulation with AUMsplice sdASO

    AUMsplice sdASO targets pre-mRNA splice junctions to modulate alternative splicing patterns. By blocking specific splice sites, these self-delivering ASOs can induce exon skipping or inclusion, allowing researchers to produce a chosen protein isoform or study the function of specific isoforms in cellular and animal models.

  • One toolkit across RNA classes

    Using AUMsilence sdASO portfolio (AUMsilence, AUMantagomir, AUMlnc, AUMsilence V+, AUMblock, and AUMsplice), researchers can now address virtually any question in RNA biology, from degradation to functional modulation to splice regulation, all with the advantage of self-delivery and AI-optimized design.

FigureBlocking, not cutting
A fully modified antisense oligonucleotide bound to its target RNA, with the cell's machinery stopped against it and nothing cutA single antisense oligonucleotide drawn as beads on a ribbon, every bead filled to show it is modified at every position with no open gap, paired base for base to a longer target RNA drawn beneath it. On the RNA to its left, a translucent disc, the cell's machinery that would read the RNA, points along the RNA and is stopped against the oligonucleotide's end, labeled cellular machinery, stopped here. No cut is marked anywhere; the words no cleavage: the oligo blocks stand beneath. The figure is a schematic and not to scale.FULLY MODIFIED OLIGONUCLEOTIDETARGET RNACELLULAR MACHINERYSTOPPED HERENo cleavage: the oligo blocks
Schematic, not to scale.
What the figure asserts, and its references
  1. An oligonucleotide modified at every position, with no gap of DNA-like bases, does not support RNase H, and the RNA it binds is not cut: in cells, uniformly modified oligonucleotides were ineffective against their target until a stretch of unmodified DNA bases was restored. [R01] [R02]
  2. A steric-blocking oligonucleotide acts by occupancy: bound to its site, it keeps the cell's machinery from reaching the RNA there without degrading it, and bound in a pre-mRNA at a splicing signal it changes how that transcript is spliced. [R03] [R04] [R02]
  1. [R01] Monia BP, Lesnik EA, Gonzalez C, Lima WF, McGee D, Guinosso CJ, et al. (1993). Evaluation of 2'-modified oligonucleotides containing 2'-deoxy gaps as antisense inhibitors of gene expression. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 268:14514-14522. PMID 8390996, doi 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)85268-7.
  2. [R02] Crooke ST, Liang XH, Baker BF, Crooke RM (2021). Antisense technology: A review. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 296:100416. PMID 33600796, doi 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100416.
  3. [R03] Kole R, Krainer AR, Altman S (2012). RNA therapeutics: beyond RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotides. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 11:125-140. PMID 22262036, doi 10.1038/nrd3625.
  4. [R04] Havens MA, Hastings ML (2016). Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic drugs. Nucleic Acids Research 44:6549-6563. PMID 27288447, doi 10.1093/nar/gkw533.

Comparison table

Side-by-side comparison

See how AUMsilence sdASO technology compares to traditional gene silencing methods

Side-by-side comparison
FeatureSelf-delivering ASO (sdASO)siRNA/RNAishRNACRISPR/Cas9
DeliverySelf-delivering; no transfection neededRequires transfection reagents or special delivery vehiclesRequires viral vectors or plasmid transfectionRequires delivery as DNA, RNA, or protein complex
Target locationNuclear & cytoplasmic RNAPrimarily cytoplasmic RNAPrimarily cytoplasmic RNADNA (genome)
Onset of effectRapidRapidSlower (days to weeks for expression)Slow (days to weeks for editing & clonal isolation)
DurationTransient, controllable (re-dosing possible)Transient (days)Long-term if integratedPermanent (DNA change)
Off-target effectsMinimal (no RISC-based off-targets)Significant (seed-based off-targets common)Similar to siRNA plus integration effectsPotential off-target genome edits
Hard-to-transfect cellsExcellent performancePoor performanceLimited by viral transductionVariable, often difficult
Setup complexityMinimal (add to medium)Moderate (optimize transfection)Complex (cloning, virus, selection)Very complex (design, cloning, selection)
Time to resultsDaysDaysWeeksWeeks to months
RNA manipulation optionsComplete: knockdown, blocking, splice modulationPrimarily knockdown onlyPrimarily knockdown onlyDNA level only (knockouts, mutations)

Order AUMsilence sdASO

AUM BioTech's AI-powered AUMsilence platform and self-delivering antisense technology (sdASO) can transform your research by providing efficient, specific gene silencing and RNA modulation in even the most challenging experimental systems. From simple cell culture to complex in vivo models, AUM BioTech's technology delivers results where others fail.

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