CAGW and TAT‐NLS peptides functionalized multitargeting gene delivery system with high transfection efficiency

Gene therapy has attracted much attention in vascular tissue engineering. However, it is still challenging to develop a novel gene carrier with multifunction to overcome the barriers in gene delivery. Herein, the multitargeting gene complexes were developed based on methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly‐(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (mPEG‐b‐PLGA), poly(d ,l ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide)‐g‐polyethylenimine‐g‐CAGW (PLGA‐g‐PEI‐g‐CAGW), cell‐penetrating peptide YGRKKRRQRRR (TAT), nuclear localization signals (NLS), and pEGFP‐ZNF580 (pDNA) with the purpose of enhancing the transfection of endothelial cells (ECs). The low cytotoxic multitargeting gene complexes could be easily prepared by adjusting the weight ratio of mPEG‐b‐PLGA and PLGA‐g‐PEI‐g‐CAGW. Meanwhile, CAGW peptide with selectively ECs‐targeting ability and TAT‐NLS peptide sequence with both cell‐penetrating ability and nuclear targeting capacity were simultaneously introduced into gene complexes in order to enable them with the multitargeting function so as to improve their gene delivery capacity. The pDNA loading capacity of these gene complexes was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis assay. MTT results demonstrated that the relatively cell viability of the multitargeting gene complexes was higher than those of other groups. These multitargeting gene complexes showed higher internalization and transfection efficiencies than other groups. These results revealed that CAGW and TAT‐NLS peptide sequences benefited for efficient gene delivery. Furthermore, the wound healing assay demonstrated that the multitargeting gene complexes could promote the proliferation and migration of ECs. These results collectively demonstrated that CAGW and TAT‐NLS peptides functionalized gene delivery system could effectively enhance the transfection of ECs, which has great potential in vascular tissue engineering.     

Amidine-bearing lipoplex targeting to hepatocyte cells

A lipoplex （i.e., pDNA#1/lipid complex and transfection reagent for pDNA delivery） containing galactosylceramide （GalCer） and an amidine-bearing lipid （TRX） was examined whether the bound pDNA was specifically ingested by hepatocyte via asialoglycoprotein receptor （ASGPR） and then expressed protein. Gel electrophoresis and small-angle X-ray scattering （SAXS） confirmed that the TRX-GalCer liposome#2 complexed with pDNA and the resultant lipoplex took a hexagonally packed inverted cylinder structure when the GalCer composition was less than 20 wt.% of the total lipid. When the lipoplex carrying pGL3 （luciferase-cording pDNA） was administrated to HepG2, the luciferase activity was increased with increasing the GalCer composition until it reached 3 wt.% and then decreased upon further addition of GalCer. When we added galactose itself as a competitor, the luciferase activity was decreased, while glucose did not show such decrease, suggesting that HepG2 ingested the lipoplex via ASGPR-mediated endocytosis. This paper indicated that the hexagonally packed inverted cylinder structures of lipoplex may not always provide excellent transfection and presented a possibility that the TRX lipoplex#3 can obtain a cellulartargeting ability through the receptors for oligosaccharide.     

普鲁兰多糖为骨架的新型阳离子非病毒基因载体

通过琥珀酸酐将低分子量支化聚乙烯亚胺(PEI, 分子量1000)偶联到普鲁兰多糖(Pullulan)上, 合成了新型基因载体P-PEI. 利用 ¹H NMR、 FTIR、 粒度仪、 Zeta电位仪、 透射电镜和凝胶电泳对聚阳离子载体及其与质粒pDNA 的复合物进行了表征. 凝胶阻滞实验结果证明, 载体P-PEI在体外可以通过静电相互作用稳定结合pDNA, 并能有效抑制DNA水解酶及血清成分对pDNA的降解. 噻唑蓝(MTT)细胞毒性测试、 绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒(pGFP)及荧光素酶表达质粒(pGL3)转染实验结果表明, 载体P-PEI在N/P高达12.5时对细胞MCF-7, HeLa和COS-7的毒性低于PEI; 当N/P 为6.25时能有效将pGFP和pGL3带入Hela 细胞并表达, 最佳转染效率及荧光素酶活分别为, 比Lipo 2000[(49.13±0.61)%, (58.47±7.62)×10⁸ RLU/mg蛋白) 略低. 因此以Pullulan为骨架材料的P-PEI是一种新的有潜在应用价值的非病毒基因载体.     

MC8 Peptide-Mediated Her-2 Receptor Targeting Based on PEI-β-CyD as Gene Delivery Vector

A novel vector with high gene delivery efficiency and special cell targeting ability was developed using a good strategy that utilized low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI; molecular weight, 600 KDa [PEI600]) cross-linked to β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) via a facile synthetic route. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) are highly expressed in a variety of human cancer cells and are potential targets for cancer therapy. MC8 peptides, which have been proven to combine especially with Her-2 on cell membranes were coupled to PEI-β-CyD using N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate as a linker. The ratios of PEI600, β-CyD, and peptide were calculated based on proton integral values obtained from the ¹H-NMR spectra of the resulting products. Electron microscope observations showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD can efficiently condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles of about 200 nm, and MTT assays suggested the decreased toxicity of the polymer. Experiments on gene delivery efficiency in vitro showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD/pDNA polyplexes had significantly greater transgene activities than PEI-β-CyD/pDNA in the Skov3 and A549 cells, which positively expressed Her-2, whereas, no such effect was observed in the MCF-7 cells, which negatively expressed Her-2. Our current research indicated that the synthesized nonviral vector shows improved gene delivery efficiency and targeting specificity in Her-2 positive cells.     

Amphiphilic cationic [dendritic poly(L-lysine)]-block-poly(L-lactide)-block-[dendritic poly(L-lysine)]s in aqueous solution: self-aggregation and interaction with DNA as gene delivery carriers

A new series of triblock [dendritic poly(L-lysine)]-block-PLLA-block-[dendritic poly(L-lysine)]s (DL(2) -PLLA-DL(2) ) with PLLA block lengths of 11.5-26.5 and double 2-generation PLL dendrons DL(2) as model cationic amphiphiles were synthesized and characterized. Their CAC, self-aggregation and plasmid DNA binding affinities in pure water and PBS were studied. The PLLA block length dependence of particle size, morphology and ξ potential for organized pDNA/amphiphile polyplex aggregates were examined. Finally, toxicities of these DL(2) -PLLA-DL(2) amphiphiles and their polyplexes were assayed by MTT with HeLa, SMMC-7721 and COS-7 cells, and COS-7 cell luciferase and eGFP gene transfection efficacies with these amphiphiles as the delivery carriers were investigated.     

Correlation of the Physicochemical and Structural Properties of pDNA/Cationic Liposome Complexes with Their in Vitro Transfection

In this study, we characterized the conventional physicochemical properties of the complexes formed by plasmid DNA (pDNA) and cationic liposomes (CL) composed of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) (50/25/25% molar ratio). We found that these properties are nearly unaffected at the studied ranges when the molar charge ratio (R(±)) between the positive charge from the CL and negative charge from pDNA is not close to the isoneutrality region (R(±) = 1). However, the results from in vitro transfection of HeLa cells showed important differences when R(±) is varied, indicating that the relationships between the physicochemical and biological characteristics were not completely elucidated. To obtain information regarding possible liposome structural modifications, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments were performed as a function of R(±) to obtain correlations between structural, physicochemical, and transfection properties. The SAXS results revealed that pDNA/CL complexes can be described as being composed of single bilayers, double bilayers, and multiple bilayers, depending on the R(±) value. Interestingly, for R(±) = 9, 6, and 3, the system is composed of single and double bilayers, and the fraction of the latter increases with the amount of DNA (or a decreasing R(±)) in the system. This information is used to explain the transfection differences observed at an R(±) = 9 as compared to R(±) = 3 and 6. Close to the isoneutrality region (R(±) = 1.8), there was an excess of pDNA, which induced the formation of a fraction of aggregates with multiple bilayers. These aggregates likely provide additional resistance against the release of pDNA during the transfection phenomenon, reflected as a decrease in the transfection level. The obtained results permitted proper correlation of the physicochemical and structural properties of pDNA/CL complexes with the in vitro transfection of HeLa cells by these complexes, contributing to a better understanding of the gene delivery process.     

High Molecular Weight Poly(ethylenimine)‐Based Water‐Soluble Lipopolymer for Transfection of Cancer Cells

Over the past decade, search for novel materials for nucleic acid delivery has prompted a special interest in polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, the biological applicability of a water‐soluble cationic lipopolymer (WSLP) obtained by the modification of high molecular weight branched poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) with cholesteryl chloroformate is characterized and assessed for better cellular membrane permeability. To test the delivery efficiency of the produced lipopolymer, plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein and WSLP are mixed at different charge ratios. WSLP and WSLP/pDNA complexes are characterized by dynamic and static light scattering, particle charge detection, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The pDNA loading of WSLP is also verified by agarose gel electrophoresis. Cytotoxicity of PEI, WSLP, and of WSLP/pDNA is evaluated on human A549 and HeLa cells. A remarkable dependence of the toxicity on the dose, cholesterylation, and charge ratio is detected. Transfection is monitored by flow cytometry and by fluorescence microscopy. Importantly, cholesterylation decreases the toxicity of the polymer, while promoting high transfection efficiency in both cell lines. This work indicates a possible optimization mode of the high molecular weight PEI‐based WSLP rendering it a promising candidate for gene delivery.     

New poly(d-glucaramidoamine)s induce DNA nanoparticle formation and efficient gene delivery into mammalian cells

In this report, four new poly(d-glucaramidoamine)s (1-4) have been designed to lower the toxicity of conventional polymeric nucleic acid delivery vehicles by incorporating a carbohydrate comonomer within a polyethylenimine (PEI)-like backbone. Polymers 1-4 were synthesized via polycondensation of esterified d-glucaric acid and four different amine-containing comonomers [diethylenetriamine (1), triethylenetetramine (2), tetraethylenepentamine (3), and pentaethylenehexamine (4)] in methanol. Viscometry and NMR studies suggest that the polymers are mostly linear (for 1-4, the alpha value in the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation = 0.6-0.7), thus indicating that polymerization occurs predominantly through the primary amines with a low degree of branching off the secondary amines. Results of gel electrophoresis shift assays show that polymers 1-4 bind pDNA at N/P ratios of 5, 3, 2, and 2, respectively. Also, dynamic light scattering and TEM experiments indicate that 1-4 compact DNA into nanoparticles (polyplexes) between 140 and 440 nm at an N/P ratio of 30. Furthermore, polyplexes formed with 1-4 deliver pDNA (plasmid DNA) containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene to BHK-21 cells in a nontoxic and highly efficient manner (as determined by luciferase gene expression). In particular, polymer 4 reveals very high delivery efficiency (equivalent to linear PEI). This result may be due in part to the "proton sponge" hypothesis proposed by Behr et al. Polymers containing amines that are protonated in the endosomal pH range (between about 7.4-5.0) reveal enhanced gene delivery profiles.     

Gene transfection into adherent cells using electroporation on a dendrimer-modified gold electrode

Gene transfection into adherent cells from plasmid DNA (pDNA)-arrayed substrates known as gene transfection arrays appears to be a promising tool for the high-throughput analysis of gene functions and protein-protein interaction networks. We tested the ability of electric pulse-stimulated gene transfection from a substrate to overcome low expression efficiency and cross contamination between spots on arrays. We prepared the electrodes used for electric pulse-stimulated gene transfection by sequentially loading a gold thin layer, a self-assembled monolayer of a carboxylic acid-terminated alkanethiol (COOH-SAM), and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, either through electrostatic interactions or by covalent linkage to COOH-SAM and then to pDNA. When dendrimers were loaded onto the electrode using electrostatic interactions, the gene-expression efficiency of adherent cells increased as the generation numbers of the dendrimers that we used increased. Gene expression was rarely observed in adherent cells when dendrimers were covalently immobilized onto the electrode. Additionally, we successfully demonstrated site-specific gene transfer using a dendrimer-array electrode with no cross contamination between spots on the electrode.     

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 novel, bio-reducible gene vector containing arginine and histidine enhances gene transfection and expression of plasmid DNA

We have engineered a novel, non-viral, multifunctional gene vector (STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C) that contained stearoyl (STR) and a block peptide consisting of Cys (C), His (H), and Arg (R). STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C can form a stable nano-complex with plasmid DNA (pDNA) based on electronic interactions and disulfide cross linkages. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C as a gene vector. We first determined the optimal weight ratio for STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C/pDNA complexes. The complexes with a weight ratio of 50 showed the highest transfection efficacy. We also examined the transfection efficacy of STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C/pDNA complexes with or without serum and compared STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C/pDNA transfection efficacy with that of Lipofectamine. Even in the presence of serum, STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C showed higher transfection efficacy than did Lipofectamine. In addition, we determined the mechanism of transfection of the STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C/pDNA complexes using various cellular uptake inhibitors and evaluated its endosomal escape ability using chloroquine. Macropinocytosis was main cellular uptake pathway of STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C/pDNA complexes. Our results suggested that STR-CH(2)R(4)H(2)C is a promising gene delivery system.     

Optimization of Streptomyces bacteriophage ��C31 integrase system to prevent post integrative gene silencing in pulmonary type II cells

φC31 integrase has emerged as a potent tool for achieving long-term gene expression in different tissues. The present study aimed at optimizing elements of φC31 integrase system for alveolar type II cells. Luciferase and β-galactosidase activities were measured at different time points post transfection. 5-Aza-2''deoxycytidine (AZA) and trichostatin A (TSA) were used to inhibit DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase complex (HDAC) respectively. In A549 cells, expression of the integrase using a CMV promoter resulted in highest integrase activity, whereas in MLE12 cells, both CAG and CMV promoter were equally effective. Effect of polyA site was observed only in A549 cells, where replacement of SV40 polyA by bovine growth hormone (BGH) polyA site resulted in an enhancement of integrase activity. Addition of a C-terminal SV40 nuclear localization signal (NLS) did not result in any significant increase in integrase activity. Long-term expression studies with AZA and TSA, provided evidence for post-integrative gene silencing. In MLE12 cells, both DNA methylases and HDACs played a significant role in silencing, whereas in A549 cells, it could be attributed majorly to HDAC activity. Donor plasmids comprising cellular promoters ubiquitin B (UBB), ubiquitin C (UCC) and elongation factor 1α (EF1α) in an improved backbone prevented post-integrative gene silencing. In contrast to A549 and MLE12 cells, no silencing could be observed in human bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS-2B. Donor plasmid coding for murine erythropoietin under the EF1α promoter when combined with φC31 integrase resulted in higher long-term erythropoietin expression and subsequently higher hematocrit levels in mice after intravenous delivery to the lungs. These results provide evidence for cell specific post integrative gene silencing with φC31 integrase and demonstrate the pivotal role of donor plasmid in long-term expression attained with this system.     

Influence of Alkyl Chains of Modified Polysuccinimide‐Based Polycationic Polymers on Polyplex Formation and Transfection

The development of polymers with low toxicity and efficient gene delivery remains a significant barrier of nonviral gene therapy. Modification and tuning of chemical structures of carriers is an attractive strategy for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Here, polyplexes consisting of plasmid DNA (pDNA) and dodecylated or non‐dodecylated polysuccinimide (PSI)‐based polycations are designed, and their transfection ability into HeLa cells is investigated by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing cells quantification. All cationic polymers show lower cytotoxicity than those of branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI). PSI and bPEI‐based polyplexes have comparable physicochemical properties such as size and charge. Interestingly, a strong interaction between dodecylated polycations and pDNA caused by the hydrophobic moiety is observed in dodecylated PSI derivatives. Moreover, the decrease of GFP expression is associated with lower dissociation of pDNA from polyplexes according to the heparin displacement assay. Besides, a hydrophobization of PSI cationic derivatives with dodecyl side chains can modulate the integrity of polyplexes by hydrophobic interactions, increasing the binding between the polymer and the DNA. These results provide useful information for designing polyplexes with lower toxicity and greater stability and transfection performance.     

Improvement of transfection efficiency by galactosylated N-3-guanidinopropyl methacrylamide-co-poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate copolymers

GalactosylatedN-3-guanidinopropylmethacrylamide-co-poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate copolymers (galactosylated GPMA-co-PEGMA, GGP) were developed in order to promote transfection efficiency in the presence of serum in this report. First of all, the galactosylated PEGMA-co-GPMA copolymers were prepared via aqueous reversible addition – fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) of poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) with long circulating chain segment and N-3-aminopropyl methacrylamide (APMA) followed by galactosylation and guanidinylation. After that, GGP/plasmid DNA complexes were examined by a dynamic light scattering and gel electrophoresis. It is showed that GGP copolymers have effective condensing ability. The cytotoxicity of GGP was measured by MTT assay. It was found that all the GGP/plasmid DNA complexes had less cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells than HeLa cells, and the galactose groups reduced the cytotoxicity of complexes with high charge ratios to HepG2 cells. Finally, the transfection efficiency of the galactosylated PEGMA-co-GPMA copolymers was investigated by luciferase expression assay. The results revealed that the copolymers with galactose groups more than 5.83% could induce the asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor mediated transfection, which improved the transfection efficiency in target cells. The GPMA-co-PEGMA copolymers with 54.57% hydrophilic chain segment PEG should prevent the aggregation of protein on the GGP/pDNA complexes, and GGP with 7.94% galactose graft exhibited the highest transfection in the presence of serum.     

Dynamics of PEGylated–Dextran–Spermine Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery to Leukemic Cells

Leukemic cells are hard-to-transfect cell lines. Many transfection reagents which can provide high gene transfer efficiency in common adherent cell lines are not effective to transfect established blood cell lines or primary leukemic cells. This study aims to examine a new class of cationic polymer non-viral vector, PEGylated–dextran–spermine (PEG-D-SPM), to determine its ability to transfect the leukemic cells. Here, the optimal conditions of the complex preparation (PEG-D-SPM/plasmid DNA (pDNA)) were examined. Different weight-mixing (w/w) ratios of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex were prepared to obtain an ideal mixing ratio to protect encapsulated pDNA from DNase degradation and to determine the optimal transfection efficiency of the complex. Strong complexation between polymer and pDNA in agarose gel electrophoresis and protection of pDNA from DNase were detected at ratios from 25 to 15. Highest gene expression was detected at w/w ratio of 18 in HL60 and K562 cells. However, gene expression from both leukemic cell lines was lower than the control MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxicity of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at the most optimal mixing ratios was tested in HL60 and K562 cells using MTS assay and the results showed that the PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex had no cytotoxic effect on these cell lines. Spherical shape and nano-nature of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at ratio 18 was observed using transmission electron microscopy. As PEG-D-SPM showed modest transfection efficiency in the leukemic cell lines, we conclude that further work is needed to improve the delivery efficiency of the PEG-D-SPM.     

Polycationic beta-cyclodextrin "click clusters": monodisperse and versatile scaffolds for nucleic acid delivery

Herein, a novel series of multivalent polycationic beta-cyclodextrin "click clusters" with discrete molecular weight have been synthesized, characterized, and examined as therapeutic pDNA carriers. The materials were creatively designed based on a beta-cyclodextrin core to impart a biocompatible multivalent architecture and oligoethyleneamine arms to facilitate pDNA binding, encapsulation, and cellular uptake. An acetylated-per-azido-beta-cyclodextrin (4) was reacted with series of alkyne dendrons (7a-e) (containing one to five ethyleneamine units) using copper-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, to form a series of click clusters (9a-e) bearing 1,2,3-triazole linkers. Gel electrophoresis experiments, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the macromolecules bind and compact pDNA into spherical nanoparticles in the size range of 80-130 nm. The polycations protect pDNA against nuclease degradation, where structures 9c, 9d, and 9e did not allow pDNA degradation in the presence of serum for up to 48 h. The cellular uptake profiles were evaluated in Opti-MEM and demonstrate that all the click clusters efficiently deliver Cy5-labeled pDNA into HeLa and H9c2 (2-1) cells, and compounds 9d and 9e yielded efficacy similar to that of the positive controls, Jet-PEI and Superfect. Furthermore, the luciferase gene delivery experiments revealed that the level of reporter gene expression increased with an increase in oligoethyleneamine number within the cluster arms. The cytotoxicity profiles of these materials were evaluated by protein, MTT, and LDH assays, which demonstrate that all the click clusters remain nontoxic within the expected dosage range while the positive controls, Jet PEI and Superfect, were highly cytotoxic. In particular, 9d and 9e were the most effective and promising polycationic vehicles to be further optimized for future systemic delivery experiments.     

Block catiomer polyplexes with regulated densities of charge and disulfide cross-linking directed to enhance gene expression

A block catiomer polyplex, showing a high stability in the extracellular medium and an efficient release of plasmid DNA (pDNA) in the intracellular compartment, was developed by controlling both the cationic charge and disulfide cross-linking densities of the backbone polycations. Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lysine) block copolymer (PEG-PLL) was thiolated using either of two thiolation reagents, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) or 2-iminothiolane (Traut's reagent), to investigate the effects of both the charge and disulfide cross-linking densities on the properties of the polyplexes. The introduction of thiol groups by SPDP proceeded through the formation of amide linkages to concomitantly decrease the cationic charge density of PLL segment, whereas Traut's reagent promoted the thiolation with the introduction of cationic imino groups to keep the charge density constant. These thiolated PEG-PLLs were complexed with pDNA to form the disulfide cross-linked block catiomer polyplexes, which had the size of approximately 100 nm. Both thiolation methods were similarly effective in introducing disulfide cross-links to prevent the polyplex from the dissociation through a counter polyanion exchange in the extracellular oxidative condition. On the other hand, the efficient release of pDNA responding to the reductive condition mimicking the intracellular environment was only achieved for the polyplex thiolated with SPDP, a system compensating for the decrease in the charge density with the disulfide cross-linking. This distinctive sensitivity toward oxidative and reductive environments was nicely correlated with the remarkable difference in the transfection efficiency between these two types of thiolated polyplexes (SPDP and Traut's reagent types): the former revealed approximately 50 times higher transfection efficiency toward 293T cells than the latter. Obviously, the balance between the densities of the cationic charge and disulfide cross-linking in the thiolated polyplex played a crucial role in the delivery and controlled release of entrapped pDNA into the microenvironment of intracellular compartment to achieve the high transfection efficiency.     

PEI-g-MPEG/白细胞介素-10基因传递系统转染背根神经节细胞的体外性能研究

探索非病毒基因载体聚乙二醇-聚乙烯亚胺共聚物(PEI-g-MPEG)介导白细胞介素-10(Interleukin-10,IL-10)体外转染原代培养背根神经节细胞(dorsal root ganglion cells,DRGs)的效果.采用本实验室设计合成的PEI-g-MPEG,与同时携带增强型绿色荧光蛋白报告基因及IL-10基因的真核表达质粒DNA(pDC316-EGFP/IL-10)形成复合物,以脂质体(lipofectamine)复合体系Lipo/pDNA为对照,通过溴乙啶(ethidiumbromide,EB)排斥实验、凝胶阻滞电泳实验、粒径与电位的测定及扫描电镜等实验方法观察PEI-g-MPEG/pDNA的复合效果.并且检测了复合物对DRGs的毒性、转染效果及IL-10的蛋白表达情况.结果表明,PEI-g-MPEG在N/P(PEI-g-MPEG所含的氮原子和质粒DNA中磷原子的摩尔比)为5时可完全复合pDNA;随着N/P的增大,PEI-g-MPEG/pDNA复合物的粒径逐渐减小,而表面电位逐渐增大;在N/P为15时报告基因转染效果和IL-10蛋白表达情况较好,复合物的形貌呈大小均一的球形.PEI-g-MPEG/IL-10基因传递系统对于神经病理性疼痛的基因治疗具有潜在应用价值.     

Novel cationic 6-lauroxyhexyl lysinate modified poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles enhance gene transfection

The leading principle of non-viral delivery systems for gene therapy is to mediate high levels of gene expression with low cytotoxicity. Nowadays, biodegradable nanoparticles formulated with poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) were wildly developed. However, the relative lower gene transfection efficiency and higher cytotoxicity still remained critical problems. To address these limitations, PLA-PEG nanoparticles have been composited with other components in their formulation. Here, a novel cationic lipid, 6-lauroxyhexyl lysinate (LHLN), was fabricated onto PLA-PEG nanoparticles as a charge modifier to improve the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. The obtained cationic LHLN modified PLA-PEG nanoparticles (LHLN-PLA-PEG NPs) could condense pDNA thoroughly via electrostatic force, leading to the formation of the LHLN-PLA-PEG NPs/pDNA complexes (NPs/DNA complexes). The nanoparticles obtained have been characterized in relation to their physicochemical and biological properties, and the results are extremely promising in terms of low cell toxicity and high transfection efficiency. These results indicated that the novel cationic LHLN modified PLA-PEG nanoparticles could enhance gene transfection in vitro and hold the potential to be a promising non-viral nanodevice.     

(Coixan polysaccharide)-graft-polyethylenimine folate for tumor-targeted gene delivery

CP-PEI-FA was prepared as an effective vector for in vitro and in vivo tumor-targeted gene delivery. The structures of the polymers were characterized, and their DNA condensation capability, particle sizes, zeta potentials, cytotoxicity and in vitro/in vivo transfection were examined. The cytotoxicity of CP-PEI-FA was significantly lower than that of PEI 25 kDa and close to that of PEI 1200. The in vitro transfection of CP-PEI-FA was tested in C6 and HeLa cells (FR-positive cells) and A549 cells (FR-negative cells). CP-PEI-FA showed a high targeting specificity and good gene transfection efficiency in FR-positive cells. These results indicate that CP-PEI-FA is a safe and effective polyplex-forming agent for both in vitro and in vivo transfection of plasmid DNA.