Passing function parameters to regexp_replace

I'm trying to write a sql or plpgsql function update_nametags(TEXT, TEXT) 
which does a replace on this form:

UPDATE sources SET source_text = regexp_replace(source_text, 
E'n="(.*?)$1(.*?)"', E'n="\\1$2\\2"', 'g') where source_text like 
'%n="%$2%">%';

But I can't find out how to escape the parameters $1 and $2. I've also tried to 
wrap it in an EXECUTE and concatenate the parameters with no luck.

I'd also like to have the function return the number of affected rows.

regards, Leif