title: Poly (4-vinylimidazole) as nonviral gene carrier: in vitro and in vivo transfection.
abstract: We explored poly(4-vinylimidazole) (P4V) as a nonviral gene carrier. We show that P4V can form DNA condensates of small size (<110 nm) using a dye-exclusion assay with ethidium bromide and dynamic light scattering, and that the complexes form in a pH-sensitive manner, due to the amphotericity of the polymer. P4V was demonstrated to lead to transfection in vitro as effectively as polyethyleneimine (PEI), but at lower cytotoxicity, under conditions where higher amounts of either polymer are required, using luciferase and green fluorescent protein as examples. Transfection in vivo was also explored, using a gene encoding yellow fluorescent protein and human osteoprotegerin injected in the tail vein of the rat. Transfection was observed, both at the gene and protein levels in lung and spleen tissue. Transfection in vivo appeared to be at least as effective using P4V as with PEI. Based upon this good transfection and low cytotoxicity, P4V seems to show promise as a nonviral gene transfer vector.
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-741, Korea. jongeun.ihm@epfl.ch
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ihm
authors.forename: Ki-Ok
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chang Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kwang-Duk
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: In-Kwon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dong Keun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hubbell
authors.forename: Chong-Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D011145:Polyvinyls; C482913:poly(4-vinylimidazole); D004247:DNA