title: Synthesis and preliminary cellular evaluation of phosphonium chitosan derivatives as novel non-viral vector.
abstract: In this study, N-phosphonium chitosans (NPCSs) with two degrees of substitution were synthesized in a homogeneous system as nonviral gene vectors. Grafted polymer/DNA complexes at various charge ratios were formulated and characterized. Particle sizes of NPCS/DNA complexes were between 110 and 160 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. Accordingly, scanning electron microscopy photo of NPCS/DNA complexes exhibited a compact morphology. Zeta potentials of these complexes changed as the charge ratio and pH varied. The cytotoxicity assay showed that NPCS polymers were less toxic than branched PEI-25K. Furthermore, gene transfection efficiencies of NPCS/DNA complexes showed that the gene transfection ability of the grafted polymer was much better than chitosan and NPCS with the degree of substitution of 21.5% had comparative gene transfection efficiency to branched PEI-25K. Together, these results suggest that the low toxic NPCS grafted polymers could be used as effective gene delivery vectors.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Changyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Xiaofen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yunayuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Yanggong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shengrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D048271:Chitosan / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005453:Fluorescence; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D055672:Static Electricity; D014162:Transfection; D014780:Viruses / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D011108:Polymers; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Chitosan; Complex; Gene delivery; Phosphonium; Transfection