title: Use of PEI-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as gene vectors.
abstract: To evaluate the feasibility of using polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic iron.oxide nanoparticles (polyMAG-1000) as gene vectors. The surface characteristics of the nanoparticles were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The ability of the nanoparticles to combine with and protect DNA was investigated at different PH values after polyMAG-1000 and DNA were combined in different ratios. The nanoparticles were tested as gene vectors with in vitro transfection models. Under the scanning electron microscope the nanoparticles were about 100 nm in diameter. The nanoparticles could bind and condense DNA under acid, neutral and alkaline conditions, and they could transfer genes into cells and express green fluorescent proteins (GFP). The transfection efficiency was highest (51%) when the ratio of nanoparticles to DNA was 1:1 (v:w). In that ratio, the difference in transfection efficiency was marked depending on whether a magnetic field was present or not: about 10% when it was absent but 51% when it was present. The magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with PEI may potentially be used as gene vectors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Weizhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C000499:ferric oxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine