[Effect of chitosan gene nanoparticles on L02 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the gene nanoparticles using chitosan (CNP), arginine modified chitosan (ANP), or hexadecylated chitosan (HNP) as carriers on the human normal liver cell line L02.


METHODS
CNPs, ANPs, and HNPs were prepared using complex coacervation method. The size and zeta potential of the gene nanoparticles were measured using Zetasizer nanoZS. The nanoparticles at concentrations of 5, 10, 30, and 50 microg/ml (based on the content of DNA) were incubated with L02 cells, respectively. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, and the effect of the gene nanoparticles on the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The zeta potential of the gene nanoparticles ranged from 12.10 to 14.63 mV, and their diameters ranged from 148.07 to 179.47 nm. MTT assay showed that the viability of L02 cells began to decrease when the concentration of CNPs reached 30 microg/ml and higher. Furthermore, the CNPs could induce cell apoptosis as the concentration of CNPs reached 30 microg/ml and higher.


CONCLUSIONS
CNPs can induce L02 cell apoptosis at relatively higher concentrations.
Wu
Gang
G
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, CAMS and PUMC, Tianjin 300192, China.
He
Xiao-Li
XL
Zhang
Hai-Ling
HL
Li
Shao-Jing
SJ
Liu
Lan-Xia
LX
Du
Guan-Hua
GH
Leng
Xi-Gang
XG
D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan