title: Decreased binding to proteins and cells of polymeric gene delivery vectors surface modified with a multivalent hydrophilic polymer and retargeting through attachment of transferrin.
abstract: Binding of serum proteins to polyelectrolyte gene delivery complexes is thought to be an important factor limiting bloodstream circulation and restricting access to target tissues. Protein binding can also inhibit transfection activity in vitro. In this study a multivalent reactive hydrophilic polymer has been used to inhibit protein binding. This polymer is based on poly-[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (pHPMA) bearing pendent oligopeptide (Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly) side chains terminated in reactive 4-nitrophenoxy groups (8.6 mol%). The polymer reacts with the primary amino groups of poly(L-lysine) (pLL) and produces a hydrophilic coating on the surface of pLL.DNA complexes (as measured by fluorescamine). The resulting pHPMA-coated complexes show a decreased surface charge (from +14 mV for pLL.DNA complexes to -25 mV for pHPMA-modified complexes) as measured by zeta potential analysis. The pHPMA-coated complexes also show a slightly increased average diameter (approximately 90 nm compared with 60 nm for pLL. DNA complexes) as viewed by atomic force and transmission electron microscopy and around 100 nm as viewed by photon correlation spectroscopy. They are completely resistant to protein interaction, as determined by turbidometry and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of complexes isolated from plasma, and show significantly decreased nonspecific uptake into cells in vitro. Spare reactive ester groups can be used to conjugate targeting ligands (e.g. transferrin) on to the surface of the complex to provide a means of tissue-specific targeting and transfection. The properties of these complexes therefore make them promising candidates for targeted gene delivery, both in vitro and potentially in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Campaign Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolfert
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oupicky
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Subr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strohalm
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ulbrich
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D005450:Fluorescamine; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011107:Polylysine / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014162:Transfection; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D005450:Fluorescamine; D010455:Peptides; D011107:Polylysine; D011108:Polymers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D000099166:Polyacrylamides