title: Preparation and characterization of polyethylenimine-coated Fe3O4-MCM-48 nanocomposite particles as a novel agent for magnet-assisted transfection.
abstract: A new type of magnetic nanoparticle was synthesized using mesoporous silica MCM-48 as a template. Magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) nanocrystals were incorporated onto the MCM-48 silica structure by thermal decomposition of iron(III) acetylacetonate. The particle size of these Fe(3)O(4)-MCM-48 composite particles is around 300 nm with an iron oxide content of ca. 20% w/w. Measurements from SQUID magnetometry suggest that these nanoparticles possess superparamagnetic properties similar to those of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles. By coating positively charged polyethylenimine on to the surface, DNA can be bound onto the Fe(3)O(4)-MCM-48 nanoparticles. Transfection studies showed that these PEI-Fe(3)O(4)-MCM-48 particles were highly effective as a transfection reagent, and a 400% increase of transfection efficiency compared with the commercial products was recorded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom. h.yiu@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Humphrey H P
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: McBain
authors.forename: Zoe A D
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Lethbridge
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobson
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011208:Powders; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D011208:Powders; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide