The characteristics and transfection efficiency of cationic poly (ester-co-urethane) - short chain PEI conjugates self-assembled with DNA.
To improve the transfection efficiency of polycations with DNA, we synthesized poly(ester-co-urethane)(PEU-g-PEI800) with short chain PEI800 in the side chain, and poly(ester-co-urethane)(PEU) without short chain PEI800. Both PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU, readily self-assembled with plasmid DNA (pCMV-betagal) in a HEPES buffer, were characterized by dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential. The results reveal that PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU were able to self-assemble particles with DNA and yield nano-sized complexes (<200nm) with positive charge at N/P ratios of 20/1 and 120/1, respectively. The degradation studies indicate that the half-life of PEU-g-PEI800 and PEU in the HEPES buffer were 14 and 35h at pH 7.4, respectively. Titration studies were performed to determine the buffering capacities of the polymers. The COS-7 cell viabilities in the presence of PEU-g-PEI800/DNA, PEU/DNA, and PEI25k/DNA were studied. In addition, The PEU-g-PEI800/DNA complexes were able to transfect COS-7 cells in vitro with a high efficiency comparable to a well-known gene carrier PEI25k. The results indicate that PEU-g-PEI800 is an attractive cationic poly (ester-co-urethane) for gene delivery and an interesting candidate for further study.
Department of Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 71710, Taiwan.
Xin-Yi
XY
Liu
Wen-Yueh
WY
Ho
Wei Jing
WJ
Hung
Min-Da
MD
Shau
D002412:Cations; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008027:Light; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010957:Plasmids; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014162:Transfection
D002412:Cations; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; C081821:microthane foam; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D004247:DNA