The present invention generally relates to peptide-modified glucan particles (PcGPs) and/or amine-modifies glucan particles (amGPs) for use in delivering payload molecules, in particular, nucleic acid payload molecules, to cells. The invention relates to particular peptides and small molecule amines which are ideally suited for use in the pcGPs and amGPs of the invention, respectively. Preferred aspects of the invention feature a single-component delivery vehicle comprising the pcGPs or amGPs and siRNA, for use as an siRNA delivery vehicle. Methods of making such particles and methods of using such particles, for example, for in mediating in vitro and in vivo gene silencing are disclosed herein.