title: Ferrocene-containing cationic lipids: influence of redox state on cell transfection.
abstract: A ferrocene-containing, redox-active cationic lipid that can be transformed using electrochemical methods yields large differences in cell transfection depending on the oxidation state of the lipid. Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein and firefly luciferase occurs at very high levels when DNA lipoplexes are formulated using the lipid in the reduced state. In contrast, transfection is negligible when oxidized lipid is used. These observations suggest the basis of a general method that could be used to transform inactive lipoplex formulations to an active form through the application of externally applied electrical potentials. The ability to activate lipoplexes toward transfection electrochemically and "on demand" could create new opportunities to deliver DNA in vitro and in vivo with both spatial and temporal control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. abbott@engr.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Nicholas L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jewell
authors.forename: Melissa E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hays
authors.forename: Yukishige
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000075163:Metallocenes; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D008055:Lipids; D000075163:Metallocenes; C505027:bis-(11-ferrocenylundecyl)dimethylammonium bromide; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004247:DNA; C004998:ferrocene