Oligonucleotides were synthesized using modified (2ʹ-F, 2ʹ-OMe) phosphoramidite with standard protecting groups. Solid-phase synthesis conditions using a MerMade 12 (BioAutomation, Irving, Texas) or AKTA Oligopilot 100 (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA) using modified protocols. Unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide strands were grown on controlled pore glass functionalized with a long-chain alkyl amine and Unylinker® terminus (Chemgenes, #N-4000–10) Sense strands, as divalent oligonucleotides were synthesized on modified solid support (5), made in house to produce di-valent sense strands. Phosphoramidites (ChemGenes, Wilmington, MA) were prepared at 0.15M (MerMade 12) and 0.2M (AKTA) in ACN with added 15% DMF in the 2`-OMe U amidite. 5-(Benzylthio)-1H-tetrazole was used as the activator at 0.25M. Detritylations were performed using 3% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in dichloromethane on the MerMade 12 and 3 %DCA in toluene on the AKTA Oligopilot (AIC Wilmington, MA). Capping was done with non-THF containing reagents CAP A: 20% NMI in CAN and CAP B: 20% Ac2 O, 30% 2,6-lutidine in CAN (AIC Wilmington, MA). Sulfurization was performed with 0.1 M solution of DDTT in Pyridine (ChemGenes, Wilmington, MA) for 3 minutes. Phosphoramidite coupling times were 8min for all amidites used.