Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Glycidyl-Based Poly(aminoester)-Folic Acid Targeting Conjugates and Study on Gene Delivery

A new poly(aminoester) (EPAE-FA) containing folic acid and amino groups in the backbone and side chain was synthesized. EPAE-FA self-assembled readily with the plasmid DNA (pCMV-βgal) in HEPES buffer and was characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, fluorescence images, and XTT cell viability assays. To evaluate the transfection effect of graft ratio of FA on the EPAE system, EPAE-FA polymers with two different graft ratios (EPAE-FA12k and EPAE-FA14k) were also prepared. This study found that all EPAE-FA polymers were able to bind plasmid DNA and yielded positively charged complexes with nano-sized particles ( < 200 nm). To assess the transfection efficiency mediated by EPAE and EPAE-FA polymers, we performed in vitro transfection activity assays using FR-negative (COS-7) and FR-positive (HeLa) cells. The EPAE-FA12k/DNA and EPAE-FA14k/DNA complexes were able to transfect HeLa cell in vitro with higher transfection efficiency than PEI25k/DNA at the similar weight ratio. These results demonstrated that the introduction of FA into EPAE system had a significant effect on transferring ability for FR-positive cells (HeLa). Examination of the cytotoxicity of PEI25k and EPAE-FA system revealed that EPAE-FA system had lower cytotoxicity. In this paper, EPAE-FA seemed to be a novel cationic poly(aminoester) for gene delivery and an interesting candidate for further study.     

High-molecular-weight polyethyleneimine conjuncted pluronic for gene transfer agents

In order to enhance the gene delivery efficiency and decrease cytotoxicity of polyplexes, copolymers consisting of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) 25 kDa grafted with Pluronic (F127, F68, P105) were successfully synthesized using a simple two-step procedure. The copolymers were tested for cytotoxicity and DNA condensation and complexation properties. Their polyplexes with plasmid DNA were characterized in terms of DNA size and surface charge and transfection efficiency. The complex sizes were below 300 nm, which implicated their potential for intracellular delivery. The Pluronic-g-PEI exhibited better condensation and complexation properties than PEI 25 kDa. The cytotoxicity of PEI was strongly reduced after copolymerization. The Pluronic-g-PEI showed lower cytotoxicity in three different cell lines (Hela, MCF-7, and HepG2) than PEI 25 kDa. pGL3-lus was used as a reporter gene, and the transfection efficiency was in vitro measured in HeLa cells. Compared with unmodified PEI 25 kDa Pluronic-g-PEI showed much higher transfection efficiency. These results demonstrate that polyplexes prepared using a combined strategy of surface crosslinking and grafted with Pluronic seem to provide promising properties as stable, high transfection efficiency vectors.     

Hydrogen bonds in polycation improve the gene delivery efficiency in the serum-containing environment

Cationic polymers with high charge density could effectively condense the DNA and achieve gene transfection; however, it often brings non-negligible cytotoxicity. Notably, the high charge density gene vector fails in the serum environment, limiting further application in vivo. In this paper, an efficient and reliable non-viral gene vector of poly (amidoamine) (PAA) was designed by introducing diacryolyl-2,6-diaminopyridine (DADAP) onto the PAA backbone through Michael-addition polymerization, which provides high transfection efficiency in a serum-containing environment. Diacryolyl-2,6-diaminopyridine and cationic parts provided multiple interactions between gene vectors and DNA, including hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions. The introduction of hydrogen bonding can effectively reduce the charge density of polyplexes without reducing the DNA condensing ability, incorporating the diaminopyridine group and cationic part in PAA chains successfully consolidated cellular uptake, endosome destabilization, and transfection efficiency for the PAA/DNA complexes with low cytotoxicity. The constructed vector with multiple interactions presented 6 times higher transfection efficiency in serum-free and 9 times in serum-containing environment than that of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI 25K) in 293T cells in vitro. Therefore, introducing the hydrogen band to form low charge density polyplexes with high transfection efficiency and low cytotoxicity has a great potential in gene delivery.     

阳离子基因载体的pH敏感遮蔽体系的制备及表征

合成了一种pH敏感的遮蔽体系-谷氨酸苄酯/谷氨酸共聚物(PBLG-co-PGA), 用于对DNA/阳离子基因载体复合物颗粒表面正电荷的遮蔽, 以提高其在体内的稳定性. 研究表明, PBLG-co-PGA (PGA(x), x为PGA占共聚物中摩尔百分数)具有pH敏感性. 并以pH敏感点接近生理pH值的PGA(60)为遮蔽体系进行研究. PGA(60)能够对DNA/PEI(1:1)复合物颗粒表面正电荷进行有效遮蔽. 凝胶阻滞电泳显示, 用PGA(60)对DNA/PEI复合物进行不同比例遮蔽, 没有发生与DNA的链交换作用. MTT细胞毒性测试表明, PGA(60)和三元复合物DNA/PEI/PGA(60) 在测试范围内几乎没有细胞毒性. 荧光素酶转染实验表明, 部分遮蔽后转染效率有所提高; 用PGA(60)对DNA/PEI复合物完全遮蔽为负电后, 由于同细胞表面的电荷排斥作用, 三元复合物不易被细胞内吞, 导致不发生细胞转染. 因其合适的pH响应性, PGA(60)将可能成为一种能随pH值的变化, 实现对聚阳离子基因载体进行电荷遮蔽/智能释放的遮蔽材料.     

基于单克隆抗体G250修饰的肿瘤细胞靶向基因载体研究

用宫颈癌细胞Hela表面高表达G250抗原的单克隆抗体G250修饰非病毒基因载体, 获得肿瘤靶向基因载体. 通过注射G250杂交瘤细胞于小鼠腹腔, 制备富含G250mAb的腹水, 用正辛酸-硫酸铵沉淀法和Protein A Agarose分离纯化, 获得高纯度的G250mAb. 通过二硫键将PEI与G250mAb偶联, 得到修饰的基因载体G250mAb-PEI, 研究其转基因靶向性. 结果表明, G250mAb-PEI对Hela细胞的基因转染具有显著的靶向性, 对Hela细胞的转基因效率是肝癌细胞HepG2(G250阴性)的2倍; 而对正常血管平滑肌细胞(SMC)的基因转染效率比Hela低近20倍, G250mAb修饰与否对SMC没有靶向性; 对3T3细胞的毒性显著低于未修饰的PEI, 表明G250mAb-PEI是一种高效、低毒和具有靶向性的基因载体.     

京尼平交联低聚乙烯亚胺智能基因载体的制备与表征

使用京尼平与分子量为1800的超支化低聚乙烯亚胺在70％的乙醇溶液中反应,合成了具有荧光的交联型聚合物.利用核磁、凝胶渗透色谱、粒度仪、zeta电位仪和凝胶阻滞电泳对聚合物载体及其与DNA复合物颗粒进行了表征.研究表明,聚合物载体与DNA复合物颗粒粒径为120 ～150 nm,zeta电位为+20～25 mV,聚合物/...     

Bioreducible crosslinked low molecular weight branched PEI-PBLG as an efficient gene carrier

Low molecular weight polyethylenimine-poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) (PEI-PBLG) was crosslinked by N,N′-cystamine-bisacrylamide (CBA) to get the polymer named as CBA-PEI-PBLG (CPP). CPP not only inherits PEI-PBLG’s amphiphilic advantages, but also possesses reducible properties. CPP can complex with DNA to form nanoparticles. CPP/DNA complex particles were characterized by particle size and zeta potential analysis. The result showed that the complex particles have suitable size and surface charges for gene delivery. And gel retardation assay also prove CBA-PEI-PBLG has proper condensing ability for DNA. CPP has good reducible property, and also has good biocompatibility because of introducing PBLG segment. The cytotoxicity of CPP was evaluated using MTT assay, and the results showed CPP has lower cytotoxicity compared with PEI 25 K. The transfection properties were characterized in different cells by using plasmid DNA as a reporter. CPP showed higher transfection efficiencies and lower cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. This was attributed to bioreducible and biocompatibility properties of the CPP. These results suggested that CPP is a promising low-toxic, highly effective non-viral gene carrier.     

A degradable hyperbranched poly(ester amine) based on poloxamer diacrylate and polyethylenimine as a gene carrier

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a well-known cationic polymer which has high transfection efficiency due to its buffering effect. However, nondegradability, cytotoxicity, aggregation, and short-circulation time in vivo still need to be overcome for a successful gene delivery. Degradable, hyperbranched poly(ester amine)s (PEAs) based on poloxamer diacrylate and low molecular weight branched PEI, were successfully synthesized and evaluated as a nonviral gene carrier. The PEAs were obtained in significant yields through Michael type addition reaction of diacrylate monomers and low molecular weight branched PEI. Analysis of degradation products by the reduction in molecular weight demonstrated that PEAs degrade in a controlled fashion. The PEA showed good DNA binding ability and the sizes of complexes under physiological condition were below 150 nm, implicating its potential for intracellular delivery. It showed lower cytotoxicity in three different cell lines (A549, 293T, and HepG2) compared with PEI 25K. PEAs showed much higher transfection efficiencies in three cell lines compared with PEI 25K and PEI 1.8K, and revealed little serum dependency in A549 cell line when the content of poloxamer in the PEA was increased up to 30%.     

MicroRNA Delivery with Bioreducible Polyethylenimine as a Non‐Viral Vector for Breast Cancer Gene Therapy

Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are outstanding macromolecules belonging to the polycations used in gene transfection. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of PEIs increase with the increase in their molecular weight. To break up the correlation between transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity for non‐viral gene delivery, disulfide cross‐linked polyethylenimine (PEI‐SS) has been widely employed as highly efficient gene vectors for DNA/siRNA delivery in numerous efforts. In this work, PEI‐SS is described as a non‐viral vector for miRNA delivery for the first time. PEI‐SS is synthesized via cross‐linking using disulfide bonds as the cross‐linker from low molecular weight PEI. PEI‐SS can efficiently bind anti‐miR‐155 to form the polyplex with nano‐sized spherical structures in the size range of 10–100 nm. The polyplex is degraded by glutathione (GSH, a reducing agent) in cancer cells. Anti‐miR‐155 is then released to efficiently inhibit tumor growth.     

巯基化透明质酸包封的仿生交联基因微载体的构建

采用超分子组装技术,通过巯基化透明质酸(HA-SH)与聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)/DNA缔合体的界面静电组装,构建了壳层二硫键仿生交联的基因超分子组装体(PEI/DNA/HA-SH).凝胶电泳结果表明,该组装体有很好的DNA缔合特性.壳层的仿生交联使基因超分子组装体在生理盐溶液中的稳定性得到有效改善,细胞毒性显著降低,并能有效转染细胞,为非病毒基因传递体系的设计提供了新途径.     

聚谷氨酸接枝聚乙二醇@碳酸钙遮蔽体系用于提高聚乙烯亚胺基因转染效率

设计并合成了聚谷氨酸-聚乙二醇@碳酸钙(PPG@CaCO₃)纳米遮蔽体系,用于遮蔽聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)。一方面,聚谷氨酸-聚乙二醇(PPG)可以降低PEI引起的细胞毒性,更有利于体内应用;另一方面,CaCO₃可有效改善PPG导致的转染效率下降,并在一定程度上提高PEI的细胞转染效率。对比遮蔽体系PPG@CaCO₃和聚谷氨酸-聚乙二醇@磷酸钙[PPG@Ca₃(PO₄)₂]发现,PPG@CaCO₃在微酸性环境中释放二氧化碳气体是提高细胞转染效率的关键因素。小鼠体内循环实验表明,PPG@CaCO₃遮蔽体系可以增加载体在血液中的循环时间。因此,PPG@CaCO₃遮蔽体系对于改善阳离子类基因载体的体内应用起到重要作用。     

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles for effective delivery of malaria DNA vaccine

Low efficiency is often observed in the delivery of DNA vaccines. The use of superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs) to deliver genes via magnetofection could improve transfection efficiency and target the vector to its desired locality. Here, magnetofection was used to enhance the delivery of a malaria DNA vaccine encoding Plasmodium yoelii merozoite surface protein MSP1(19) (VR1020-PyMSP1(19)) that plays a critical role in Plasmodium immunity. The plasmid DNA (pDNA) containing membrane associated 19-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 (PyMSP1(19)) was conjugated with superparamagnetic nanoparticles coated with polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymer, with different molar ratio of PEI nitrogen to DNA phosphate. We reported the effects of SPIONs-PEI complexation pH values on the properties of the resulting particles, including their ability to condense DNA and the gene expression in vitro. By initially lowering the pH value of SPIONs-PEI complexes to 2.0, the size of the complexes decreased since PEI contained a large number of amino groups that became increasingly protonated under acidic condition, with the electrostatic repulsion inducing less aggregation. Further reaggregation was prevented when the pHs of the complexes were increased to 4.0 and 7.0, respectively, before DNA addition. SPIONs/PEI complexes at pH 4.0 showed better binding capability with PyMSP1(19) gene-containing pDNA than those at neutral pH, despite the negligible differences in the size and surface charge of the complexes. This study indicated that the ability to protect DNA molecules due to the structure of the polymer at acidic pH could help improve the transfection efficiency. The transfection efficiency of magnetic nanoparticle as carrier for malaria DNA vaccine in vitro into eukaryotic cells, as indicated via PyMSP1(19) expression, was significantly enhanced under the application of external magnetic field, while the cytotoxicity was comparable to the benchmark nonviral reagent (Lipofectamine 2000).     

Diol glycidyl ether-bridged cyclens: preparation and their applications in gene delivery

Polymeric 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecanes (cyclens) using diol glycidyl ether with different chain length as bridges (5a-e) were designed and synthesized from various diols, 1,7-diprotected cyclen and epichlorohydrin. The molecular weights of the title polymers were measured by GPC with good polydispersity. Agarose gel retardation and fluorescent titration using ethidium bromide showed good DNA-binding ability of 5. They could retard plasmid DNA (pDNA) at an N/P ratio of 4-6 and form polyplexes with sizes around 100-250 nm from an N/P ratio of 10 to 60 and relatively low zeta-potential values (5-22 mV). The cytotoxicity of 5 assayed by MTT is much lower than that of 20 kDa PEI. In vitro transfection against A549 and 293 cells showed that the transfection efficiency (TE) of 5c/DNA polyplexes is close to that of 20 kDa PEI at an N/P ratio of 5. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) of 5 was discussed in their DNA-binding, cytotoxicity, and transfection studies. The TE of 5c/DNA polyplexes could be improved by the introduction of 50 μM of chloroquine, the endosomolytic agents, to pretreated cells. These studies may extend the application areas of macrocyclic polyamines, especially for cyclen.     

A facile approach to construct hyaluronic acid shielding polyplexes with improved stability and reduced cytotoxicity

A facile approach for polymer gene carriers was used to construct hyaluronic acid (HA) shielding polyplexes due to the electrostatic interaction. By adding HA to PEI/DNA complexes, the ξ-potential of ternary polyplexes was changed from positive to negative. Spherical particles with diameter about 250nm were observed. Ethidium bromide exclusion assay indicated that the electrostatic complexation was loosened after addition of HA. However, DNA disassembly did not occur. The proper reason was that the intensity of negative charges was not strong enough to release DNA from the complexes in our experiment. The stability of PEI/DNA/HA polyplexes in physiological condition was improved and the cytotoxicity was reduced. Comparing with PEI/DNA polyplexes, the uptake and transfection efficiency of HA shielding polyplexes was lower for HEK293T cells probably due to the reduced adsorptive endocytosis, whereas it was higher for HepG2 cells due to HA receptor mediated endocytosis. This facile approach to constructing HA shielding polyplexes might have great potential application in non-viral gene delivery research and tumor therapy.     

Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Micelles for Gene Delivery

Gene therapy is a promising method to treat acquired and inherited diseases by introducing exogenous genes into specific recipient cells. Polymeric micelles with different nanoscopic morphologies and properties hold great promise for gene delivery system. Conventional cationic polymers, poly(ethyleneimine)(PEI), poly(L-lysine)(PLL), poly(2-dimethyla-minoethyl methacrylate)(PDMAEMA) and novel cationic polymers poly(2-oxazoline)s(POxs), have been incorporated into block copolymers and decorated with targeting moieties to enhance transfection efficiency. In order to minimize cytotoxicity, nonionic block copolymer micelles are utilized to load gene through hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions or covalent conjugations, recently. From our perspective, properties(shape, size, and mechanical stiffness, etc.) of block copolymer micelles may significantly affect cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency, circulation time, and load capacity of gene vectors in vivo and in vitro. This review briefly sums up recent efforts in cationic and nonionic amphiphilic polymeric micelles for gene delivery.     

侧链含咪唑取代基聚(L-天冬酰胺)高效基因载体研究

通过氨基引发聚丁二酰亚胺( PSI)开环反应,制备了系列侧链含氨乙基和咪唑丙基的聚(L-天冬酰胺)共聚物(P1 ～ P5).该系列聚合物不仅具有极低的细胞毒性,而且随侧链中咪唑取代基含量的增加,聚合物在pH 5 ～8范围内缓冲能力显著提高.通过凝胶电泳、粒径和电位分析等研究了聚合物与质粒DNA的相互作用.结果表明,所有...     

Why is less cationic lipid required to prepare lipoplexes from plasmid DNA than linear DNA in gene therapy?

The most important objective of the present study was to explain why cationic lipid (CL)-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA (pDNA) is better than that of linear DNA in gene therapy, a question that, until now, has remained unanswered. Herein for the first time we experimentally show that for different types of CLs, pDNA, in contrast to linear DNA, is compacted with a large amount of its counterions, yielding a lower effective negative charge. This feature has been confirmed through a number of physicochemical and biochemical investigations. This is significant for both in vitro and in vivo transfection studies. For an effective DNA transfection, the lower the amount of the CL, the lower is the cytotoxicity. The study also points out that it is absolutely necessary to consider both effective charge ratios between CL and pDNA and effective pDNA charges, which can be determined from physicochemical experiments.     

Bimodal Targeting Using Sulfonated,Mannosylated PEI for Combined Gene Delivery and Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and gene delivery have both been used to target both cancer cells and tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs). Given the complex nature of tumor tissue, there could be merit in combining these strategies simultaneously. In this study, we developed a bimodal targeting approach to both cancer cells and macrophages, employing materials conducive to both gene delivery and PDT. Polymers libraries were created that consisted of cationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) conjugated to the photosensitizer pyropheophorbide‐a, with sulfonation (to target selectin‐expressing cells) and mannosylation (to target TAMs). Polyplexes, consisting of these polymers electrostatically bound to DNA, were analyzed for transfection efficacy and cytotoxicity toward epithelial cells and macrophages to assess dual‐targeting. This study provides preliminary proof of principle for using modified PEI for targeted gene delivery and PDT.     

细胞核靶向聚乙烯亚胺-地塞米松偶联物的制备及作为基因载体的应用

采用地塞米松(Dex)和低分子量聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)经酰胺化反应, 合成了一种新型靶向基因载体PEI-Dex偶联物. 研究结果表明, PEI-Dex可结合DNA形成复合物, 在最佳制备条件下(N/P=12), PEI-Dex/DNA复合物粒径为(162±1.90) nm, 电位为(12.8±0.11) mV, 适用于基因转染. PEI-Dex的细胞毒性较低, 可促进复合物的细胞核转运, 从而显著提高转染效率.     

Enhanced Anti-Tumor Effect of Folate-Targeted FA-AMA-hyd-DOX Conjugate in a Xenograft Model of Human Breast Cancer

Folate-aminocaproic acid-doxorubicin (FA-AMA-hyd-DOX) was firstly synthesized by our group. It was indicated that FA-AMA-hyd-DOX was pH-responsive, and had strong cytotoxicity on a folate receptor overexpressing cell line (KB cells) in vitro. The aim of our study was to further explore the potential use of FA-AMA-hyd-DOX as a new therapeutic drug for breast cancer. The cellular uptake and the antiproliferative activity of the FA-AMA-hyd-DOX in MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. Compared with DOX, FA-AMA-hyd-DOX exhibited higher targeting ability and cytotoxicity to FR-positive tumor cells. Subsequently, the tissue distribution of FA-AMA-hyd-DOX was studied, and the result confirmed that DOX modified by FA can effectively increase the selectivity of drugs in vivo. After determining the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of FA-AMA-hyd-DOX in MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing nude mice, the antitumor effects and the in vivo safety of FA-AMA-hyd-DOX were systematically evaluated. The data showed that FA-AMA-hyd-DOX could effectively increase the dose of DOX tolerated by tumor-bearing nude mice and significantly inhibit MDA-MB-231 tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, FA-AMA-hyd-DOX treatment resulted in almost no obvious damage to the mice. All the positive data suggest that FA-targeted FA-AMA-hyd-DOX is a promising tumor-targeted compound for breast cancer therapy.