title: Polyethylene glycol enhances lipoplex-cell association and lipofection.
abstract: The association between liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) and targeted cell membranes is a limiting step of cationic liposome-mediated transfection. A novel technique was developed where lipoplex-cell membrane association is enhanced by the addition of 2-6% polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the transfection media. Lipoplex-cell association was found to increase up to 100 times in the presence of PEG. Transfection increased correspondingly in the presence of PEG. This increase was found in several cell lines. These results show that lipoplex adsorption to cell membranes is a critical step in liposome-mediated transfection. This step can be facilitated by PEG-induced particle aggregation.
authors.affiliation: Membrane Biophysics Laboratory, Molecular and Cellular Biophysics Department, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002412:Cations; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000737:chemistry; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry; D010957:Plasmids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008081:Liposomes; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C020888:1,2-dielaidoylphosphatidylethanolamine; D004247:DNA; C070046:1,2-dioleoyloxy-3-(trimethylammonium)propane