The characteristics and transfection efficiency of PEI modified by biodegradable poly(beta-amino ester).
To improve the cytotoxicity of PEI25k and the transfection efficiency of poly(beta-amino ester) with DNA, we synthesized a poly(beta-amino ester), PEDP, bearing ester linkages in the backbone and tertiary amines in the backbone and side chain and prepared a binary mixture, PEDP-PEI25k, using physical blending meyhod. Both poly(beta-amino ester) PEDP and binary mixture PEDP-PEI25k, readily self-assembled with plasmid DNA (pCMV-beta gal) in a HEPES buffer, were characterized by dynamic light scattering. The results reveal that PEDP-PEI25k was able to self-assemble plasmid DNA into PEDP-PEI25k/DNA nano-complexes small enough to enter a cell through endocytosis. Titration studies were performed to determine the buffering capacities of PEDP and PEDP-PEI25k. The COS-7 cell viabilities in the presence of PEDP and PEDP-PEI25k were studied. At low mass ratio of PEDP/PEI25k (1/1), it is found that the transfection curve of PEDP-PEI25k/DNA bearing a maximum peak is similar to that of PEI25k/DNA. In addition, the PEDP-PEI25k/DNA complexes were able to transfect COS-7 cells in vitro with a high efficiency comparable to a well-known gene carrier PEI25k/DNA. The results indicate that binary mixture PEDP-PEI25k is an attractive cationic carrier for gene delivery and an interesting candidate for further study.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Rd., Min-Hsiung Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC.
Jong-Yuh
JY
Cherng
Yuan-Po
YP
Lee
Chao-Hsien
CH
Lin
Kui-Hsiang
KH
Chang
Wei-Yang
WY
Chang
Min-Da
MD
Shau
D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002412:Cations; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004952:Esters; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids; D011108:Polymers; D014162:Transfection
D000588:Amines; D002412:Cations; D004952:Esters; D011108:Polymers; C507253:poly(beta-amino ester); D004247:DNA