title: Cerasome as an infusible and cell-friendly gene carrier: synthesis of cerasome-forming lipids and transfection using cerasome.
abstract: Sonication of a pre-agitated aqueous solution of cationic lipid having a (EtO)3SiCH2CH2CH2 group on the quarternized ammonium nitrogen results in partially silica- or ceramic-coated liposome (cerasome), which can be used as an excellent transfection agent. Non-silylated reference lipid, which may represent cationic lipids that are used in conventional lipofection experiments, form a compact liposome, which undergoes DNA-induced fusion to provide transfection-irrelevant and larger (100-300 nm), more toxic particles. The surface-rigidified cerasome is infusible and the monomeric cerasome complex of DNA is of viral size (approximately 70 nm) and exhibits a remarkable transfection performance with a 10(2)-10(3)-fold higher efficiency (relative to the non-silylated reference lipid), minimized cytotoxicity and serum compatibility. The cerasome lipid is obtained by the reaction of 3-bromopropyltriethoxysilane with a tertiary amine derivative of the lipid. Preparation of an aqueous cerasome solution takes 1-2 h. The cerasome-DNA complex and the transfection takes about 3 d to complete.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D004247:DNA