Physicochemical and biological study of selected hydrophobic polyethylenimine-based polycationic liposomes and their complexes with DNA.
Non-viral gene therapy is based on the development of efficient and safe gene carrier systems able to transfer DNA into cells. Polyethylenimine (PEI), the most promising non-viral vector, with its high cationic-charge-density potential is able (1) to compact DNA in complexes (polyplexes) smaller than those formed by liposomes (lipoplexes) and (2) to destabilize the endosomal membrane by a 'proton sponge' effect. Several PEI's hydrophobic modifications were reported in the last several years but in some cases a reduced transfection efficiency was observed. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is not well understood so far. In order to extensively investigate these mechanisms, we reported a physicochemical and biological study of selected hydrophobic PEI's derivatives grafted with chains of different length and percentages of substitution able to form vesicles (polycationic liposomes) and to bind DNA. Their properties were studied by means of dynamic light scattering, freeze-fracture microscopy, potentiometric titrations, gel retardation assays, polyanion exchange reactions, toxicity assays, in vitro transfections, and fluorescence microscopy. Our results indicate that even if polyplexes are able to pass through the cellular membrane, the stability of PEI's hydrophobic polyplexes likely explain their different transfection efficiency in vitro.
Masotti
Andrea
A
Chemistry Department, University of Study of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. andrea.masotti@uniroma1.it
Moretti
Fabiola
F
Mancini
Francesca
F
Russo
Giuseppina
G
Di Lauro
Nicoletta
N
Checchia
Paola
P
Marianecci
Carlotta
C
Carafa
Maria
M
Santucci
Eleonora
E
Ortaggi
Giancarlo
G
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA