title: Gelatin nanoparticles as a new and simple gene delivery system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate cationized gelatin nanoparticles as biodegradable and low cell toxic alternative carrier to existing DNA delivery systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Native gelatin nanoparticles were produced using a two step desolvation method. In order to bind DNA by electrostatic interactions onto the surface of the particles, the quaternary amine cholamine was covalently coupled to the particles. The modified nanoparticles were loaded with different amounts of plasmid in varying buffers and compared to polyethyleneimine-DNA complexes (PEI polyplexes) as gold standard. Transfection ability of the loaded nanoparticles was tested on B16 F10 cells. Additionally, the cell toxicity of the formulations was monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different setups resulted in efficient gene delivery displayed by exponential increase of gene expression. The gene expression itself occurred with a certain delay after transfection. In contrast to PEI polyplexes, cationized gelatin nanoparticles almost did not show any significant cytotoxic effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cationized gelatin nanoparticles have shown the potential of being a new effective carrier for nonviral gene delivery. The major benefit of gelatin nanoparticles is not only the very low cell toxicity, but also their simple production combined with low costs and multiple modification opportunities offered by the matrix molecule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5-13, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zwiorek
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kloeckner
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coester
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005780:Gelatin