Improved GFP gene transfection mediated by polyamidoamine dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes with high biocompatibility.
The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-polyamidoamine (PAMAM) hybrid was prepared by covalent linkage approach, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. The PAMAM dendrimers were present on the surface of MWCNTs in high density, and the MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid exhibited good dispersibility and stability in aqueous solution. The interaction between MWCNT-PAMAM with plasmid DNA of enhanced green fluorescence protein (pEGFP-N1), intracellular trafficking of the hybrid, transfection performance and cytotoxicity to HeLa cells were evaluated in detail. We found that the MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid possessed good pEGFP-N1 immobilization ability and could efficiently delivery GFP gene into cultured HeLa cells. The surface modification of MWCNTs with PAMAM improved the transfection efficiency 2.4 and 0.9 times, and simultaneously decreased cytotoxicity by about 38%, as compared with mixed acid-treated MWCNTs and pure PAMAM dendrimers. The MWCNT-PAMAM hybrid can be considered as a new carrier for the delivery of biomolecules into mammalian cells. Therefore, this novel system may have good potential applications in biology and therapy, including gene delivery systems.
Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Traditional Chinese Medicine Research (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, PR China.
Weiling
W
Qin
Keqin
K
Yang
Hao
H
Tang
Liang
L
Tan
Qingji
Q
Xie
Ming
M
Ma
Youyu
Y
Zhang
Shouzhuo
S
Yao
D002470:Cell Survival; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008954:Models, Biological; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D050091:Dendrimers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins