title: Synthesis and characterization of folate-PEG-grafted-hyperbranched-PEI for tumor-targeted gene delivery.
abstract: A great challenge for gene therapy is to develop a high efficient gene delivery system with low toxicity. Nonviral vectors are still attractive although the current agents displayed some disadvantages (i.e., low transfection efficiency, high toxicity). To overcome the high toxicity of poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) and low transfection efficiency of PEGylated PEI (PEG-PEI), we linked a cell specific target molecule folate (FA) on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and then grafted the FA-PEG onto hyperbranched PEI 25kDa. The FA-PEG- grafted-hyperbranched-PEI (FA-PEG-PEI) effectively condensed plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles with positive surface charge under a suitable N/P ratio. Tested in deferent cell lines (i.e., HEK 293T, glioma C6 and hepatoma HepG2 cells), no significant cytotoxicity of FA-PEG-PEI was added to PEG-PEI. More importantly, significant transfection efficiency was exhibited in FA-targeted cells. Reporter assay showed that FA-PEG-PEI/pDNA complexes had significantly higher transgene activity than that of PEI/pDNA in folate-receptor (FR) positive (HEK 293T and C6) cells but not FR-negative (HepG2) cells. These results indicated that FA-PEG-PEI might be a promising candidate for gene delivery with the characteristics of good biocompatibility, potential biodegradability, and relatively high gene transfection efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107, West Yanjiang Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ming-Liang
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhong-Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chu-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hsiang-Fu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Xin-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Shuai
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007097:Imines; D011095:Polyethylenes; C505405:poly(ethylene imine); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004247:DNA; D005492:Folic Acid