title: Novel cationic solid-lipid nanoparticles as non-viral vectors for gene delivery.
abstract: In this paper, the suitability of novel cationic solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLN) as a nonviral transfection agent for gene delivery was investigated. SLN were produced by using the microemulsion method and Compritol ATO 888 as matrix lipid, dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide as charge carrier and Pluronic F68 as surfactant. Obtained nanoparticles were approximately 120 nm in size and positively charged, with a zeta potential value equal to +45 mV in twice-distilled water. Cationic SLN were able to form stable complexes with DNA and to protect DNA against DNase I digestion. The SLN-DNA complexes were characterized by mean diameter and zeta potential measurements. In vitro studies on human liver cancer cells demonstrated a very low degree of toxicity of both SLN and SLN-DNA complexes. Further, SLN-DNA complexes were able to promote transfection of liver cancer cells. These data suggest that our cationic SLN may be potentially useful for gene therapy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Palermo, Italy. marialuisa.bondi@ismn.cnr.it
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bondi
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzolina
authors.forename: Emanuela Fabiola
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Craparo
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lampiasi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capuano
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammona
authors.forename: Melchiorre
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervello
mesh_terms: D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005989:Glycerides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005989:Glycerides; D004247:DNA; D001616:beta-Galactosidase