title: Energy-independent intracellular gene delivery mediated by polymeric biomimetics of cell-penetrating peptides.
abstract: Efficient gene transfer into mammalian cells mediated by small molecular amphiphile-polymer conjugates, bile acid-polyethylenimine (BA-PEI), is demonstrated, opening an efficient transport route for genetic materials across the cell membrane. This process occurs without the aid of endocytosis or other energy-consuming processes, thus mimicking macromolecular transduction by cell-penetrating peptides. The exposure of a hydrophilic face of the amphiphilic BA moiety on the surface of BA-PEI/DNA complex that mediates direct contact of the BA molecules to the cell surface seems to play an important role in the endocytosis- and energy-independent internalization process. The new modality of the polymeric biomimetics can be applied to enhanced delivery of macromolecular therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Hyun June
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yeon Lim
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yuhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyuri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong Tae
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Tae Gwan
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; D011108:Polymers