A novel poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-pluronic-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) grafted polyethyleneimine(PCFC-g-PEI), Part 1, synthesis, cytotoxicity, and in vitro transfection study.
BACKGROUND
Polyethyleneimine (PEI), a cationic polymer, is one of the successful and widely used vectors for non-viral gene transfection in vitro. However, its in vivo application was greatly limited due to its high cytotoxicity and short duration of gene expression. To improve its biocompatibility and transfection efficiency, PEI has been modified with PEG, folic acid, and chloroquine in order to improve biocompatibility and enhance targeting.


RESULTS
Poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-Pluronic-Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCFC) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization, and PCFC-g-PEI was obtained by Michael addition reaction with GMA-PCFC-GMA and polyethyleneimine (PEI, 25 kD). The prepared PCFC-g-PEI was characterized by 1H-NMR, SEC-MALLS. Meanwhile, DNA condensation, DNase I protection, the particle size and zeta potential of PCFC-g-PEI/DNA complexes were also determined. According to the results of flow cytometry and MTT assay, the synthesized PCFC-g-PEI, with considerable transfection efficiency, had obviously lower cytotoxicity against 293 T and A549 cell lines compared with that of PEI 25 kD.


CONCLUSIONS
The cytotoxicity and in vitro transfection study indicated that PCFC-g-PEI copolymer prepared in this paper was a novel gene delivery system with lower cytotoxicity and considerable transfection efficiency compared with commercial PEI (25 kD).
Shi
Shuai
S
State Key Lab of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China. shi.shuai23@yahoo.com.cn
Guo
QingFa
Q
Kan
Bing
B
Fu
ShaoZhi
S
Wang
XiuHong
X
Gong
ChangYang
C
Deng
HongXin
H
Luo
Feng
F
Zhao
Xia
X
Wei
YuQuan
Y
Qian
ZhiYong
Z
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010316:Particle Size; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D020442:Poloxamer; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011094:Polyethyleneimine