title: Clustered magnetite nanocrystals cross-linked with PEI for efficient siRNA delivery.
abstract: Magnetofection has been utilized as a powerful tool to enhance gene transfection efficiency via magnetic field-enforced cellular transport processes. The accelerated accumulation of nucleic acid molecules by applying an external magnetic force enables the rapid and improved transduction efficiency. In this study, we developed magnetite nanocrystal clusters (PMNCs) cross-linked with polyethylenimine (PEI) to magnetically trigger intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). PMNCs were produced by cross-linked assembly of catechol-functionalized branched polyethylenimine (bPEI) around magnetite nanocrystals through an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion and solvent evaporation method. The physical properties of PMNC were characterized by TEM, DLS, TSA, and FT-IR. Finely tuned formulation of clustered magnetite nanocrystals with controlled size and shape exhibited superior saturation of magnetization value. Magnetite nanocrystal clusters could form nanosized polyelectrolyte complexes with negatively charged siRNA molecules, enabling efficient delivery of siRNA into cells upon exposure to an external magnetic field within a short time. This study introduces a new class of magnetic nanomaterials that can be utilized for magnetically driven intracellular siRNA delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ki Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Chunsoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Gwan
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide