Visualization of the degradation of a disulfide polymer, linear poly(ethylenimine sulfide), for gene delivery.
Polyethylenimine (PEI) shows high transfection efficiency and cytoxicity due to its high amine density. The new disulfide cationic polymer, linear poly(ethylenimine sulfide) (l-PEIS), was synthesized for efficient and safe gene delivery. As the amine density of l-PEIS increased, the transfection efficiency also increased. l-PEIS-6 and l-PEIS-8 show transfection efficiencies that are similar to that of PEI. However, cytotoxicity of l-PEIS was not observed due to the biodegradable disulfide bond. The disulfide bonds are stable in the oxidative extracellular condition and can be degraded rapidly in the reductive intracellular condition. The degradation of l-PEIS in HeLa cells was visualized by fluorescence microscopy using the probe-probe dequenching effect of BODIPY-FL fluorescence dye. l-PEIS was degraded completely within 3 h.
Lee
Yan
Y
School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea.
Mo
Heejung
H
Koo
Heebeom
H
Park
Jong-Yeun
JY
Cho
Min Yi
MY
Jin
Geun-Woo
GW
Park
Jong-Sang
JS
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011073:Polyamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D012996:Solutions; D013440:Sulfides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
D004220:Disulfides; D011073:Polyamines; D012996:Solutions; D013440:Sulfides; C517412:poly(ethylenimine sulfide); D005978:Glutathione