title: Optimisation of dendrimer-mediated gene transfer by anionic oligomers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of synthetic vectors for gene transfer has potential advantages over virus-based systems. Their use, however, is limited since they generally lack the efficiency of gene transfer achieved with recombinant viral vectors such as adenovirus. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) and phosphorus-containing dendrimers (P-dendrimers) are specific polymers with a defined spherical structure. They bind to DNA through electrostatic interactions thus forming complexes that efficiently transfect cells in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The influence of anionic oligomers (oligonucleotides, dextran sulfate) on dendrimer-mediated polyfection of cultured cells has been studied. Anionic oligomers have been found to increase significantly the capacity of the PAMAM and P-dendrimers for DNA delivery into cells when they were mixed with plasmid DNA before addition of dendrimers. The efficiency of the DNA/dendrimer penetration depends on the size, structure and charge of anionic oligomers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results represent an important step towards the optimisation of gene transfer mediated by two types of dendrimers. The use of anionic oligomers improves the efficiency of gene expression within cells. As a consequence, a very efficient cell polyfection can be achieved with a lower plasmid quantity for the PAMAM dendrimer greatly increasing the gene expression level for P-dendrimers.
authors.affiliation: BioAlliance Pharma SA, 59 boulevard du Général Martial Valin, 75015 Paris, France. andremak@igr.fr
authors.forename: Andrei V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Maksimenko
authors.forename: Vasilii
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mandrouguine
authors.forename: Marina B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gottikh
authors.forename: Jean-Remi
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Majoral
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malvy
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D050091:Dendrimers; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D009841:Oligonucleotides; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D011073:Polyamines; D004247:DNA